Yahoo! Inc named Carol Bartz as chief executive officer after a two-month search, looking to the former head of Autodesk Inc for new direction in its fight with Google Inc.

Bartz, takes over immediately, Yahoo said yesterday in a statement. President Susan Decker, who had been considered for the job, will leave the company after a transitional period. Jerry Yang, who co-founded Yahoo in 1994, agreed in November to step down as head of the company.

Bartz, CEO of Autodesk from 1992 to 2006, faces the challenge of reviving Yahoo's growth after the company spurned a $47.5 billion takeover attempt by Microsoft Corp last year. She also has to learn a new business - Internet advertising - a switch from the design software sold by Autodesk. Yahoo ranks second to Google in Internet searches and online ads.