Katherine Maher, the new chief executive of Web Summit
Web Summit has announced it’s new CEO after former boss Paddy Cosgrave stepped down earlier this month.
Mr Cosgrave, who stepped away from his role as chief executive after making ‘Israeli war crimes’ comments, which saw major tech companies including Google, Meta, Intel, and Stripe withdraw from the Lisbon conference.
In a statement Mr Cosgrave said: “I am resigning as CEO of Web Summit with immediate effect.
“Unfortunately my personal comments have become a distraction from the event, and our team, our sponsors, our startups and the people who attend.
“I sincerely apologise again for any hurt I have caused.”
Former Wikipedia boss Katherine Maher has now been appointed as CEO.
Ms Maher was CEO of Wikimedia Foundation, the non-profit organisation behind Wikipedia, for five years. She is also chair of the messaging platform Signal Messenger.
Ms Maher has also worked for UNICEF. the National Democratic Institute, Access Now and the World Bank.
“I am excited to join Web Summit, because I believe in Web Summit’s mission to connect people and ideas that change the world,” Ms Maher said in a statement this morning.
“Our immediate task is returning the focus to what we do best: delivering dialogue among all those connected with technological advancement,” she said.
Web Summit also announced it has appointed Damian Kimmelman as a non-executive board director. Mr Kimmelman is the co-founder of multiple tech companies including Batelle.com, an online program that aims to help children and parents with their child’s sleep.
“I firmly believe in Web Summit’s mission to help make the meaningful connections that change the world, and I’m looking forward to working with Katherine and the board to achieve this and to support the dialogue which will ensure that Web Summit remains the world’s leading tech conference,” Mr Kimmelman said.
