Biography: Terry S. Semel

Episode 510
BETTING ON BIG IDEAS:
How Taking Risks Can Reap Rewards

Featured Guest:
Terry S. Semel
Chairman & CEO, Yahoo! Inc.

Terry S. Semel is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Yahoo! Inc., a leading global Internet Company. Semel is focused on providing the strategy and vision that will allow Yahoo! To attain its goal to be the Internet's leading global consumer and business services company. A globally respected media and entertainment executive, Semel was named Yahoo!'s Chairman and CEO in May, 2001.

Previously, Semel spent 24 years at Warner Bros., most noted for his role as Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer, where he and his partner Robert Daly helped build Warner Bros. into one of the world’s largest and most creative media and entertainment enterprises. Like Yahoo!, Warner Bros. reaches billions of worldwide consumers through hits vast stable of properties. Semel is credited with building Warner Bros. from a single revenue source generating less than $1 billion to nearly $11 billion total revenues from multiple, diverse businesses in 50 countries.

Prior to Warner Bros., Semel was in charge of Walt Disney's Theatrical Distribution division and previously in charge of CBS' Theatrical Distribution division.

Semel is currently on the Board of Directors of Polo Ralph Lauren Corporation, the Guggenheim Museum and the Museum of Television and Radio. In 2005 Semel was granted the UCLA Medal, which is the highest honor bestowed by the university and the Yale Legends in Leadership Award.

Semel holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Long Island University and an honorary doctor of humane letters degree from Emerson.