Geoff-
I've now written and deleted several drafts of this; there's no good way to
properly explain everything you've meant to the Foundation, the movement,
or to me. So instead of anything long and drawn out, just some highlights:
* When you first hired me, I was worried that your incredibly extensive
corporate background would mean I had to spend a lot of time explaining
community stuff. Instead, you had already taken to it like a fish to water.
Truly, you're an example of how good people don't need tons of community
experience to become great community contributors.
* You're the best manager I've ever had. You really know how to get the
best out of your team (both individually and as a group), in a way that is
demanding but also humane and rewarding.
* Your judgment (including knowing when to listen to your staff!) was
always terrific. Your breadth of experience let you be pragmatic and
confident in your decision-making, which was critical for a small team
juggling many demands, including a truly global set of challenges.
* Your unfailingly good sense of humor let us cover your desk in stuff,
over and over and over again. :) [1]
Take care in the new role, buddy-
Luis
[1] Not actually Geoff's desk, but this gives you the flavor of something
that happened over and over and over again:
On Wed, Jul 13, 2016 at 2:27 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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