In a shocking move, Katherine Maher, who was hastily appointed as the CEO and chairperson of Web Summit at the end of October 2023, is stepping down from her role to take on a new position as the CEO of National Public Radio (NPR), a nonprofit U.S. media group.
Background
Maher’s appointment came at a time of crisis for Web Summit, with founder Paddy Cosgrave effectively forced to resign after making remarks criticizing Israel in the hours and days following Hamas’ attack on civilians in the country. The remarks went viral, leading to numerous high-profile individuals and companies canceling their participation in the event.
New Role
Maher will be taking over as CEO of NPR, a media group with a weekly audience of 44 million people, at a pivotal time in U.S. election history. Her background in free information and digital rights makes her an ideal candidate for this role. Maher has had a long history of involvement in tech and policy advocacy, including serving as the CEO and executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation (between 2019 and 2021) and chairing the board of the foundation behind the private messaging app Signal.
Short Tenure
Maher’s departure from Web Summit comes just three months after her appointment. A source close to the situation revealed that the offer from NPR was "out of the blue" and came quickly, which may explain Maher’s extremely short tenure. Her decision to leave Web Summit has left many in the tech industry wondering about the future of the company.
Web Summit’s Future
The future of Web Summit is now uncertain, with no clear indication of who will take over as CEO or chairperson. The company has a strong reputation in the tech industry, but its recent controversies have raised questions about its leadership and direction.
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