This is posted on behalf of all staff today - we first heard about Jon's decision on Monday.

We are sorry to see Jon go - we have worked with him over the past few years to make Wikimedia UK what it is today. He has shown quiet but effective leadership to keep together and inspire a close-knit staff team through the rough and the smooth. He has done that by managing in a way that has fostered our development as individuals and as a team, and by reminding us all along about the bigger picture, the mission and the vision we’re all working towards.

Under Jon's stewardship we have grown from being a small staff team with a focus on small events and basic administration to taking our first steps as a leading force in the open knowledge sector through our partnerships and projects. Along the way he has supported many of us in our personal lives and nurtured us to grow and seek opportunities as professionals. That has always been appreciated and we haven't taken for granted the humility he has shown by being prepared to offer help with even the smallest tasks in all of our roles.

We have had the chance to talk to the Trustees about the impact on the charity, and we will soon be working with Jon's interim and permanent successors. We will do what is needed to ensure our current programme is delivered and lay the groundwork for welcoming his permanent successor. We will continue to build on his legacy having stewarded the Chapter from before it was even a registered charity to its current successes.

Jon, on our behalf, thank you for the untold hours of overtime you have put in and for your encouragement, your understanding and humanity. You have made us feel valued and we’re proud to have worked with you, and for you. We wish you the very best for the future.

The Wikimedia UK staff

On 12 November 2014 17:27, Jon Davies <jon.davies@wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:
Now that could be misconstrued!

On 12 November 2014 17:21, Pat Hadley <pat@pathadley.net> wrote:
Three cheers! (I'm not as eloquent as Martin....)

P

On Wed, Nov 12, 2014 at 3:09 PM, Jon Davies <jon.davies@wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:
:'-)


On 12 November 2014 15:04, Martin Poulter <infobomb@gmail.com> wrote:
Jon, this is very sad news for me and, I think, for the charity.
I don't think many in the community realise just how often, and in how many ways, you've gone above and beyond the call of duty for Wikimedia UK.
We can all, however, see the results of what you've brought about: building an excellent team and helping them stay motivated through some difficult times; a richly experienced and diverse board; expanding the scope of WMUK's activity (compare a typical month now with a typical month three years ago); professional policies and processes in place (/wipes spit off screen).

Above all, you've brought in a lot of skills on which we Wikipedians are typically not strong. You've always emphasised WMUK as a welcoming environment for staff, volunteers and newcomers- something that we in the wider Wikimedia movement urgently need to learn from.

I really hope you'll stay in touch with us and, while I realise there's only one Jon Davies, I hope we can get a Chief Executive cut from similar cloth.


On 11 November 2014 08:48, Jon Davies <jon.davies@wikimedia.org.uk> wrote:

With some sadness I have to tell you that I will be leaving Wikimedia UK, as an employee, if not as a volunteer, at the end of the year. I have achieved what I set out to do and leave WMUK in a good state. I now need to look for new challenges.


I was the first chief executive and it has been an amazing three years watching the chapter grow and develop. It has not always been smooth sailing but we have come through it together in good shape. Wikimania proved how professional we had become and the positive feedback from the participants makes all the work we put in worthwhile.


My heartfelt thanks to everyone in the community, particularly the volunteers who are at the heart of all we do, my great colleagues at the Foundation and the loyal and hardworking staff at WMUK who have supported me so ably and with such good humour over the years.


My best wishes go to my successor in all they seek to achieve.


Cyhoeddiad gan Jon


Gyda pheth tristwch rwy'n eich hysbysu y byddaf yn gadael Wikimedia UK, fel cyflogai, os nad

fel gwirfoddolwr, ar ddiwedd y flwyddyn. Dw i wedi cyflawni'r hyn roeddwn wedi'i obeithio a dw

i'n gadael WMUK ar delerau da. Edrychaf ymlaen rwan am sialensau newydd. Fi oedd y Prif Weithredwr cyntaf ac mae'r dair blynedd diwethaf wedi bod yn hollol anhygoel,

wrth i mi weld y siaptr yn tyfu a datblygu. Doedd y daith bob amser ddim yn llyfn, ond daethom drwyddi'n y diwedd yn ddianaf! Profodd Wikimania inni aeddfedu mewn modd proffesiynol a chafwyd adborth adeiladol gan y cyfranwyr ­oedd yn gwneud yr holl waith yn bleser.


Carwn ddiolch o waelod fy ngalon i bawb o fewn ein cymuned, yn enwedig y gwirfoddolwyr sy'n sylfaen i'n gwaith, fy nghydweithwyr bendigedig yn Sylfaen Wikimedia a'r staff sydd wedi bod mor driw i mi, wedi fy nghefnogi mor effeithiol ac wedi gweithio mor arbennig o galed dros y blynyddoedd ­ a hynny gyda hiwmor iach. Dymunaf pob llwyddiant i f'olynydd ym mhopeth y ceisiant ei gyflawni.

--
Jon Davies - Chief Executive Wikimedia UK.  Mobile (0044) 7803 505 169
tweet @jonatreesdavies

Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects).

Telephone (0044) 207 065 0990. 
 
Visit http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/ and @wikimediauk

_______________________________________________
Wikimedia UK mailing list
wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org
http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk



--
Dr Martin L Poulter
Wikipedia contributor         http://enwp.org/User:MartinPoulter
Volunteer, Wikimedia UK   http://wikimedia.org/wiki/User:MartinPoulter
Musician                          http://soundcloud.com/martin-poulter
                                       http://myspace.com/comapilot
Person                             http://infobomb.org/

_______________________________________________
Wikimedia UK mailing list
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WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk



--
Jon Davies - Chief Executive Wikimedia UK.  Mobile (0044) 7803 505 169
tweet @jonatreesdavies

Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects).

Telephone (0044) 207 065 0990. 
 
Visit http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/ and @wikimediauk

_______________________________________________
Wikimedia UK mailing list
wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org
http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk



--
Pat Hadley
Yorkshire's open culture brain-for-hire

_______________________________________________
Wikimedia UK mailing list
wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org
http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk



--
Jon Davies - Chief Executive Wikimedia UK.  Mobile (0044) 7803 505 169
tweet @jonatreesdavies

Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects).

Telephone (0044) 207 065 0990. 
 
Visit http://www.wikimedia.org.uk/ and @wikimediauk

_______________________________________________
Wikimedia UK mailing list
wikimediauk-l@wikimedia.org
http://mail.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimediauk-l
WMUK: https://wikimedia.org.uk



-- 
Stevie Benton
Head of External Relations
Wikimedia UK
+44 (0) 20 7065 0993 / +44 (0) 7803 505 173
@StevieBenton
Wikimedia UK is a Company Limited by Guarantee registered in England and Wales, Registered No. 6741827. Registered Charity No.1144513. Registered Office 4th Floor, Development House, 56-64 Leonard Street, London EC2A 4LT. United Kingdom. Wikimedia UK is the UK chapter of a global Wikimedia movement. The Wikimedia projects are run by the Wikimedia Foundation (who operate Wikipedia, amongst other projects).
Wikimedia UK is an independent non-profit charity with no legal control over Wikipedia nor responsibility for its contents.