Firefox names new interim CEO, after anti-gay marriage donations row
Mozilla has named a new interim CEO, just 11 days after Brendan Eich resigned over his donations to anti-gay marriage campaigns.
An announcement today from the company confirmed that Chris Beard, the company’s former Chief Marketing Officer, will take over immediately as acting chief executive.
Former CEO Brendan Eich, appointed last month, made the decision to step down two weeks ago, after his donations to anti-equal marriage campaigns came to light.
In a blog titled ‘Mozilla Moving Forward’, Chairwoman Mitchell Baker wrote: “We intend to use recent events as a catalyst to develop and expand Mozilla’s leadership. Appointing Chris as our interim CEO is a first step in this process.”
“In this time of transition there is no better person to lead us. Chris has one of the clearest visions of how to take the Mozilla mission and turn it into programs and activities and product ideas that I have ever seen.”
According to CNet, Beard is a long-time Mozilla insider who has been with the company since the initial launch of Firefox in 2004.
Beard, who remained largely silent on the controversy, tweeted: “Excited to step in as interim CEO to continue shaping the future of the Web for public good w/ fellow Mozillians”
