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Technology can sometimes move at the velocity of ignitor . And so , too , can technology executives . In a shock move , Web Summit announced today that Katherine Maher — who washastily appointedto the role of CEO and chairperson of the events company at the end of October 2023 — is stepping down from the purpose to take on a new caper as the CEO ofNational Public Radio , the non-profit-making U.S. sensitive group .

Maher had tread into the job at WWW Summit at a time of crisis . Just weeks before the troupe ’s flagship consequence in Lisbon , entanglement Summit beginner Paddy Cosgrave was effectivelyforced to resignfrom the dual part after remarks he made criticizing Israel in the time of day and days after Hamas first attack civilian in the country . The remarks went viral , leading to a number of high - profile people and companies canceling their engagement in the case .

Maher ’s quick departure might be regard as dry , given her engagement was made to stress to stabilize the establishment after Cosgrave ’s resignation . Cosgrave stillowns 80 % of the parent company , but he no longer has any operable or executive function .

In a statement issued by connection Summit , Maher said : “ I have absolutely loved leading the Web Summit team . Even in a short space of time I have date the decision , passion , and creativity across team to unendingly give up unbelievable issue to the world . While I ’m sad to leave , I am thrilled to contribute in a unlike way as Chair , continuing to work with the executive team through 2024 and beyond . ”

We asked to speak directly to Maher . A voice sound out she would be give only one interview : to NPR .

Web Summit said its plug-in “ has already begun the search for a Modern master executive . ”

The move comes as Web Summit appear to head its business into new territory , and away from the controversy of last fall , although some might argue that it ’s not steering far away enough . Web Summit has been planning an inaugural conference in just one month ’s clock time in Doha , Qatar ( on February 26 ) .

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formally , Maher will abide on as World Wide Web Summit chief executive officer to see through that event , before stepping down on March 1 . When she does so , a spokesperson say she will stay on as a non - executive chair of Web Summit ’s add-in .

A informant who declined to go on the record said the fling from NPR had come “ out of the sorry , ” which would perhaps excuse Maher ’s extremely little land tenure . The whirl had “ happened cursorily ” and was an chance Maher felt she “ could n’t turn down , ” given NPR ’s stature in the U.S. and her background in detached information , they said .

NPR has a hebdomadary consultation of 44 million hoi polloi and will be among those media entity vying for aid in a pivotal U.S. election year . NPR announced inSeptember 2023that its old CEO , John Lansing , would be retiring at the conclusion of the year . ( It ’s not clear when NPR and Maher first began tattle . )

Maher has had a long story of involvement in technical school and policy advocacy , with a focusing on human and digital rights . old roles let in chief operating officer and executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation ( between 2019 and 2021 ) , and she is chair of the table of the foundation behind the individual messaging app Signal . She also harbour various other board and fellowship stance — including on the Atlantic Council and the Truman National Security Project .

Cosgrave ’s remark on Twitter about Israel ’s ( at the time ) plan invasion of Hamas - hold Gaza lead to a phone number of high - profile tech pattern , investor and expectant organization , including Google / Alphabet , Meta , Intel , Amazon , and Stripe , topull outof last year ’s group discussion .

Individuals who spoke out against attending included Keith Rabois ( Founders Fund ) , fintech entrepreneur and investor David Marcus , Garry Tan ( Y Combinator ) , and Adam Singolda ( Taboola ) , among many others .

In separate developments , Web Summit also announce that Craig Becker , Web Summit chief event officeholder , had unite the circuit card as an executive board manager . He will assume the executive director function on the board vacated by Mike Sexton , the entanglement Summit CMTO , follow the destruction of his four - class service as director .