The GNOME Foundation has announced that their Executive Director "will be departing" after only 9 months on the job.
Why the short tenure?
The departing Executive Director, Holly Million, was hired to lead the GNOME Foundation in October of 2023 -- leaving behind her career as a "Professional Shaman" and producer of flavored "Shaman Water". During her 9 month tenure at the helm, she guided GNOME down a path of continued financial ruin, and avoided any interaction with Tech Journalists.
Million's only known accomplishment, as Executive Director, is the creation of a "GNOME 5 Year Strategic Plan" consisting primarily of "Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion" and the goal of, eventually, producing... a PowerPoint Presentation.
The new interim Executive Director, Richard Littauer, will be transitioned into the role over the remainder of the month of July.
“I’m very proud of what I have accomplished in my time with GNOME," stated Holly Million, "and I am dedicated to working with Richard through a transition to ensure that everything I have been working on is handed off smoothly. I will be pursuing a PhD in Psychology and dedicating myself to my own private practice."
The wording of the entire announcement avoids stating who decided on this course of action.
Why, exactly, is Holly Million leaving the role? Was she fired for her, well documented, poor performance? Did she choose to leave? Considering the short notice -- just over 2 weeks for a transition to the new Executive Director -- coupled with the recent praise which Million received from the GNOME Foundation Board... that would suggest this was not a long-planned departure.
The Future of GNOME Foundation
Being as Richard Littauer will be the interim Executive Director... who will fill that role permanently? According to the announcement:
"The Board will be meeting next week to set up a search plan for a permanent Executive Director, which will be announced after GUADEC (July 19th - 24th, 2024)."
Whoever the new Executive Director ends up being, that person will inherit a foundation in dire financial circumstances, with no viable plan to return to profitability. And, even though GNOME may be a "non-profit" foundation... losing money regularly is simply not sustainable.
Did the GNOME Foundation learn a lesson from the folly of the outgoing Executive Director? Will they select a new Director who will be better equipped to return the GNOME Foundation to profitability and sustainability?
We will soon find out.
