Web Summit: Katherine Maher new CEO

Web Summit: Katherine Maher new CEO

Brussels, 11/1/2023

Former Wikimedia Foundation head Katherine Maher has been named the new CEO of Web Summit, Europe’s largest technology conference. Maher takes over from co-founder Paddy Cosgrave, who resigned earlier this month after making controversial social media posts about the Israel-Hamas war.

In the comments, Cosgrave criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza – Dioes was in favor, prompting companies such as Google, Meta and Intel to withdraw from the technology conference.

His successor was executive director of the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that runs Wikipedia, from March 2016 to April 2021. She was also its CEO for two years.

Cosgrave continues to retain majority ownership of Web Summit’s parent company. However, his co-founders have privately urged board members to pressure Cosgrave to sell his shares, saying his ownership puts the company at risk.

Entrepreneur Damian Kimmelman, co-founder of Batelle, has also been named an executive board member of Web Summit.