As it is revealed that she could earn up to $100M (£65M) over five years, Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer has sent her first memo to staff, stating that they are doing an important job and must keep moving.

Marissa Mayer, CEO of Yahoo (Nasdaq: YHOO)
Yahoo

Mayer, 37, who was previously Google's 20th employee and started at Yahoo on 17 July, is set to receive a basic pay of $1m (£630,000) a year, but could be set to earn $100m over five years thanks to bonuses, and share options in the company, according to Reuters.

Her annual bonus target is set at double the $1m base salary and will be made up of shares redeemable after three years at the company; Mayer will also receive a one-time retention award, which will be paid once she has been at Yahoo for five years.

Mayer's stock options and other awards could add up to $42m, as well as $14m in "make whole restricted options" for forfeiture of compensation from Google. With the inclusion of some stock grants, Mayer could earn up to a total of $20m a year, or up to $100m over five years, a Yahoo spokeswoman told Reuters.

In her first memo to all Yahoo staff, sent on 19 July, Mayer calls the company an internet icon and said: "I couldn't be more excited to be here - thank you for the warm welcome over the past two days."

Adding that she has always had a "deep respect" for Yahoo, Mayer said that she has been a fan of the company since first seeing it in 1994 as David and Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web.

Pregnant

In an interview with Fortune Mayer revealed that she is pregnant, and due to give birth to a boy in October. Acknowledging Yahoo's recent history, Mayer told staff: "The company has been through a lot of change in the past few months, leaving many open questions around strategy and how to move forward. I'm sensitive to this.

"While I have some ideas, I need to develop a more informed perspective before making strategy or direction changes. In the meantime, please do *not* stop. You are doing important work - please keep moving."

Emphasising the work that Yahoo staff are doing, Mayer urged them again to "keep moving" and continuing to do their work as they are.

"If you have questions or concerns about whether or not to continue with something, please ask. However, with the exception of a few things that would heavily constrain us in the future, the answer is most likely, 'yes, keep moving'."

Speaking about Yahoo's interim CEO, Ross Levinsohn, Mayer told staff: "Ross has done a terrific job for the company and made significant progress on many important efforts."

Mayer ends by saying that staff are welcome to come to her office if they want to speak to her, and signs off with "I can't wait to hear your ideas for Yahoo's future."

Full email from Marissa Mayer to employees:

Dear Yahoos!

I couldn't be more excited to be here -- thank you for the warm welcome over the past 2 days! I can't wait to get to know more about Yahoo!'s products, culture, and all of you. I've always had a deep respect for Yahoo! -- I first experienced it as a student at Stanford in 1994 as "David and Jerry's Guide to the World Wide Web" -- and I have been a fan ever since. I'm incredibly honored to now be a part of the team and work with all of you. Yahoo! is an internet icon -- in terms of brand, reach, user following, and its products and services. There is an enormous amount of opportunity in front of us.

The company has been through a lot of change in the past few months, leaving many open questions around strategy and how to move forward. I'm sensitive to this. While I have some ideas, I need to develop a more informed perspective before making strategy or direction changes. In the meantime, please do *not* stop. You are doing important work -- please keep moving. If you have questions or concerns about whether or not to continue with something, please ask. However, with the exception of a few things that would heavily constrain us in the future, the answer is most likely, 'yes, keep moving.'

Companies are all about people -- the companies with the best talent win. Joining was an easy decision for me, because the strength of your talent and that of the whole team is apparent. We will continue to invest in talent, so we can produce the most compelling and exciting user experiences anywhere.

In recognizing our team's deep talent, we all owe thanks to Ross Levinsohn for his leadership and direction as interim CEO over the past couple of months. Ross has done a terrific job for the company and made significant progress on many important efforts.

Looking forward, we need to encourage creativity, continue Yahoo!'s tradition of bold innovation, and ultimately inspire and delight users and advertisers globally. I am excited to get to work and to meet all of you. Please come by my office in building D on the 3rd floor and say hello. I can't wait to hear your ideas for Yahoo!'s future.

Marissa