A surprising turn of events has unfolded at tech company OpenWeb, where a leadership transition has become a battleground. The drama erupted when founder and outgoing CEO Nadav Shoval publicly challenged the board’s decision to appoint Tim Harvey as his successor. The conflict came to light on September 10 during a company-wide Town Hall, where Harvey, the then-chairman of the board, announced he would be stepping into the CEO role. Shoval, however, is contesting the move, alleging that it breaches his contract and undermines the company. In an email to staff members, Shoval accused the board of “falsely stating” his resignation and “acting against OpenWeb’s best interests.”
Shoval has also alleged that he had notified the board about breaches of his contract before they proceeded with the leadership change. “I will continue relentlessly fighting for OpenWeb’s mission and purpose. I notified the Board that they breached my contract, which was intended to directly call out their concerning conduct. Instead of addressing these issues, the Board decided to move forward with an attempted leadership transition, continuing to act against OpenWeb’s best interests,” Shoval stated in an email quoted by The Times of India.
Additionally, Shoval’s letter came after an email to staff announcing Harvey’s appointment as CEO. “I will be stepping in as our new CEO, succeeding Nadav Shoval, who has led the company with incredible passion and vision since its inception,” Harvey reportedly wrote, before thanking Shoval for his work.
In a separate mail to staff, Harvey apologised for the uncertainty and the issue. He emphasised a “planned CEO transition process” and promised to do it with “respect” for all stakeholders.
Moreover, OpenWeb’s official statement recognises Shoval’s founding role and “incredible passion” while welcoming Harvey as “interim CEO.” They highlight Harvey’s significant experience and intend to keep the company on track for growth. The statement concludes by emphasising OpenWeb’s dedication to creating “trusted spaces for meaningful dialogue” and its skilled workforce.
OpenWeb, formerly Spot.IM, is an online platform that enables constructive interactions between publishers and their communities. The startup has over 100 million active users and has received considerable funding, including a $170-million Series F round in October 2022, which values OpenWeb at $1.5 billion.
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