Geoff,
It is always difficult to say farewell to a trusted colleague and friend,
but it is wonderful to see your skills and leadership recognized in this
new role. I’m so excited for you to bring your energy and experience to
another passionate and rollicking global community of creators.
You’ve seen the Foundation through a remarkable five years. You’ve built a
tremendous team that is critical to helping the Wikimedia projects thrive
well into the future. You’ve expertly navigated our challenges, focusing
our efforts where we can have the most impact. Through your team, you've
empowered the Foundation as fierce advocates for open licensing, privacy,
freedom of information, and contributors rights, truly embodying the values
of our movement. And as a colleague, you’ve been a counselor and voice of
wisdom for our executive team and Board of Trustees.
Throughout it all, you have empowered everyone you work with to do their
best work. And even as you go, you leave us with the strong leadership of
Michelle and Stephen, who each bring excellent judgment and deep experience
with our complexities and curiosities.
Some of you may not know that the Communications team once reported to
Geoff. When I joined the Foundation as as Chief Communications Officer,
Geoff was one of the first people I met. He generously onboarded me,
offering insights into the communities and Foundation. We often worked
hand-in-hand to support and defend our movement and values. During this
time, I developed a deep appreciation for his steady leadership, appetite
for interesting challenges, and pursuit of excellence.
Thank you, Geoff, for your leadership, service, and dedication to our
movement. I know that our time with you has made our movement stronger. and
your time with us has hopefully helped prepare you for the opportunities
ahead. It’s always a joy to see people move on to new challenges and cheer
for them to succeed.
Our movement will certainly miss you, but we are very excited for what you
will do next.
Katherine
On Wed, Jul 13, 2016 at 2:25 PM, Geoff Brigham <gbrigham(a)wikimedia.org>
wrote:
Hi all,
Over the past five years, I’ve been honored to serve as the General Counsel
and Secretary of the Wikimedia Foundation. This job has been amazing, and
I’m grateful to everyone who has made it so rewarding. It's now time for my
next step, so, in the coming days, I will be leaving the Foundation to
pursue a new career opportunity.
I depart with such love for the mission, the Foundation, the Wikimedia
communities, and my colleagues at work. I thank my past and present bosses
as well as the Board for their support and guidance. I stand in awe of the
volunteer writers, editors, and photographers who contribute every day to
the Wikimedia projects. And I will hold special to my heart my past and
current teams, including legal and community advocacy. :) You have taught,
given, and enriched me so much.
After my departure, Michelle Paulson will serve as interim head of Legal,
and, subject to Board approval, Stephen LaPorte will serve as interim
Secretary to the Board. I can happily report that they have the experience
and expertise to ensure a smooth and professional transition.
The future of the Foundation under Katherine's leadership is exciting.
Having had the pleasure of working for her, I know Katherine will take the
Foundation to its next level in promoting and defending the outstanding
mission and values of the Wikimedia movement. Although I'm delighted about
my next opportunity, I will miss this new chapter in the Foundation's
story.
My last day at the Foundation will be July 18th. After that, I will take a
month off to recharge my batteries, and then I start my new gig at YouTube
in the Bay Area. There, I will serve as Director of YouTube Trust & Safety,
managing global teams for policy, legal, and anti-abuse operations. As with
Wikimedia, I look forward to learning from those teams and tackling
together a new set of exciting, novel challenges.
For those who want to stay in touch, please do! My personal email is:
geoffrey.r.brigham(a)gmail.com.
With respect, admiration, and gratitude,
Geoff
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Katherine Maher
Wikimedia Foundation
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