Studio ‘Pix’ Decker For Board

Yahoo! CFO and Tufts graduate Susan Decker was recently named to Pixar Animation Studios’ board of directors.

Emeryville, Calif. [7-21-04] Susan Decker’s resume just got a little more animated. Already the chief financial officer for Yahoo!, the Tufts graduate has been tapped for a post on Pixar’s board of directors – becoming the first dot-com executive to join what many consider the industry’s hottest animation studio.

“We’re thrilled to have Susan join our board of directors,” Steve Jobs, Pixar Animation Studio’s CEO told Daily Variety. “Susan’s deep financial expertise as well as her strong management experience will help guide Pixar as we enter a very exciting period ahead.”

Decker – who double majored in economics and computer science at Tufts – shares Job’s enthusiasm.

“Pixar’s films are loved and admired throughout the world, including in my own home, and I’m excited to join the board of this unique company,” Decker told Computer Graphics World. “I am looking forward to working with Steve and the other Pixar board members to contribute to the company’s continued growth and success.”

Already a major force in Hollywood following the release of the five most successful animated films of all time, Pixar is entering a new stage after cutting ties with Disney.

And the studio is gearing up to release its next kid-friendly, computer animated feature The Incredibles this fall. Many hope the film will enjoy the same level of success as previous Pixar releases, which have earned 17 Oscars.

“From 1995's Toy Story – the world's first all-CG feature – to last year's Finding Nemo, Pixar's five hermetically crafted movies have grossed a staggering $2.5 billion at the box office, making it the most successful film studio, picture for picture, of all time,” reported WIRED magazine in a recent profile.

The Tufts graduate brings a lot of business experience to the Pixar board.

In her current post at Yahoo!, Decker manages all financial and administrative activities for the company, which is the world’s leading Internet brand with more than 237 million users in 25 countries.

Prior to that, she was global director of equity research for Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette.