Web Summit CEO Paddy Cosgrave returns to the company six months after criticising Israel
Paddy Cosgrave, co-founder of the international technology conference Web Summit, has returned as CEO for the first time in six months since resigning in October 2023. Cosgrave resigned as CEO following controversy after making remarks criticizing Israel's treatment of Palestine.
Web Summit CEO returns six months after resignation | Reuters
Paddy Cosgrave returns as Web Summit CEO after resigning over Israel/Gaza controversy | TechCrunch
In October 2023, Cosgrave posted a message on X strongly condemning Israel's response to Palestine, saying, 'War crimes are war crimes, even if they are committed by an ally.' However, Israel as a country boycotted the Web Summit, and several companies also canceled their participation.
Israel boycotts Israel and influential figures also announce boycotts after international conference representative says 'Israel is a war criminal' - GIGAZINE
Cosgrave has apologized to anyone hurt by his words and resigned as CEO of Web Summit.
Apology from Paddy Cosgrave | Web Summit
Web Summit has appointed former Wikimedia Foundation CEO Katherine Marr as CEO, effective immediately, ahead of the conference, which was scheduled to take place in November 2023.
Marr also served as chairman of the Doha conference held in February 2024, but will retire in March 2024 and move to become CEO of public broadcaster NPR. Cosgrave will return to the vacant Web Summit as the new CEO.
Upon his return, Cosgrave said, 'Last year I took a break for the first time in 15 years and it was time to think about the history of Web Summit, why I started it, and what I want to achieve.' Regarding the future, he said, 'Web Summit has become large, but we should aim to have fewer participants. We should be more intimate, more friendly, and more community-focused. We will sow the seeds of small communities at the event and help them thrive long after the event. I look forward to a future where we have more to share.'
Today I'm returning as CEO of @WebSummit .
— Paddy Cosgrave (@paddycosgrave) April 8, 2024
When I stepped back last year, it was the first time I had taken time off in 15 years. It gave me time to think about Web Summit, its history, why I started it on my own from my bedroom and what I wanted it to be.
I took the time to… pic.twitter.com/cDu33kS1tP
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