Yahoo! Inc. Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer has attempted unsuccessfully to unravel a 10-year search-advertising pact with Microsoft Corp. in favor of a deal with Google Inc., according to people familiar with the matter.
Mayer began the effort to end the agreement soon after becoming Yahoo CEO in July, and she has met with resistance from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the meetings were private.
