- Thursday, 12 November 2009
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The INQUIRER: Promote well being, guarantees a shorter life
Yahoo abandons Blighty
INTERWEB search outfit Yahoo has had a gutful of London and is shipping its entire European HQ to Switzerland.
Apparently the weak, overpriced, southern beer, the fact that the underground trains are older than Spinola and smell similar, has sent Yahoo in search of mountain air.
Officially Yahoo said that the move is part of its "ongoing international business strategy to increase competitiveness, deliver financial results, performance and efficiencies".
It would appear that London has got a mite expensive for Yahoo's tastes.
However the main problem with that concept is that Switzerland is very expensive too and other than the fact that it is fairly central to the rest of Europe has little going for it.
The shift will take about 18 months and involve five percent of the company's European work force. ยต
L'Inq
AP
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Some years ago Yahoo UK was actually listed in the London phone book and you could ring and speak to a real human being. 

Long since gone unlisted as far as I can see. So them packing up and leaving will make no difference. 

If you have a problem with Yahoo you'll continue posting your query into the ether -- and never hear anything back.
Switzerland lies in the middle of the EU but is NOT an EU member, I hope that explains it for you.

Seems the load of EU rules doesn't fit in yahoo's future plans, rules like anti-monopoly rules for if you want to let's say sell yahoo to MS? and human rights, and privacy rules for if you want to put bloggers in jail all come quite randomly to mind.
this whole country is going to the dogs.
Hmmm, choose to be based in London with an hour plus commute, air pollution, congestion charge, ridiculously high cost of living. 

Or try Rolle (small and part way between Geneva and Lausanne - right next to the lake, lovely view of the mountains and today we've got blue skies and sunshine) commutes typically 20-30 minutes (if you want to live right in the country), clean air, no congestion charge (and apart from 'rush hour' no congestion). Cost of living high? Maybe. As high as London? Not even close.

Yahoo like most of new business is truly footloose with no reason for staying in one location, I amazed they didn't move earlier.
much lower corporation tax in switzerland. may i suggest the isle of mann?

thanks.

AT adds: Where's that then?
Yahoo! may think that the good old Schweiz is closer to the EU than the UK is. Common sense.