[Foundation-l] Announcement: Jennifer Riggs leaves Wikimedia

[Sue Gardner]

Hi folks,

I'm sorry to tell you that as of September 18, Jennifer Riggs will be
leaving the Wikimedia Foundation.

Since joining us last April, Jennifer has helped the Wikimedia
Foundation to improve in some important ways. She has helped Frank,
Cary and Jay better structure their work, and she supported the
staging of the NIH Wikipedia Academy in Bethesda, managed the chapters
grants process, and represented Wikimedia at the GLAM-Wiki conference
in Australia.  That was all good work, and I thank her for it.

However, Jennifer and I have agreed that despite those contributions,
she ultimately will not be a good fit for the Chief Program Officer
role.  That doesn't mean her path will never cross ours again, and
it's not a decision intended to reflect badly on her skills or
abilities.  Obviously we both wish things had played out differently.

As you know, the Wikimedia Foundation has never had a Chief Program
Officer - it's a completely new position and there's no obvious career
path to prepare someone for it.  It's sad this first attempt to fill
the role hasn't worked out, but it is perhaps, in retrospect, not that
surprising.  Over the next month or so, we'll be revisiting the role
and its responsibilities to ensure the conditions are in place to
enable a new Chief Program Officer to succeed: I am looking forward to
beginning that process.   I expect it will take at least three months,
and possibly more, to place a new person in the role: I'll keep you
aware of our progress.  You can expect that at some point the position
will be posted on the Wikimedia Foundation website, and we'll announce
that here when it happens.

I recognize that Jennifer's departure may leave you with questions
about what happened, or what will happen next.  I know you'll
understand that some information will be confidential, but I'll be
happy to tell you whatever I can.

I want to thank Jennifer for her contributions to Wikimedia during her
time with us, and for her professionalism. Please join me in wishing
her all the best in future.

Thanks,
Sue



-- 
Sue Gardner
Executive Director
Wikimedia Foundation

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415 816 9967 cell

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