Brendan Eich step down as Mozilla CEO, following gay marriage scandalHe was appointed to the top job just last week on March 24.
The scandal unfolded after it emerged Eich supported California’s proposed anti-gay marriage law Proposition 8, and had donated $1000 in support of a campaign banning same-sex marriage, in 2008.
Mozilla staff were said to be furious at their CEO’s views and OkCupid dating site also called on users to boycott Firefox Web browser.
Despite his insistence earlier this week that he would not step down, Eich it seems, bowed to pressure, but was not pushed, Mitchell Baker, Mozilla’s Executive Chairwoman said in a interview today.
Baker said, “It’s clear that Brendan cannot lead Mozilla in this setting. The ability to lead – particularly for the CEO – is fundamental to the role and that is not possible here.”
“He’s made this decision for Mozilla and our community,” Baker said in a blog post announcing his resignation.
She described the vents of the last weeks as “painful” but says the scandal “shows exactly why we need the web. So all of us can engage freely in the tough conversations we need to make the world better.”
“Our organizational culture reflects diversity and inclusiveness. Mozilla supports equality for all.”
Eich, one of Mozilla co-founders, has been with the company since 1998, and previously was Chief Technology Officer at the search giant. The company are said to be aware of their CEO’s controversial views since 2012.
“Mozilla prides itself on being held to a different standard and, this past week, we didn’t live up to it. We know why people are hurt and angry, and they are right: it’s because we haven’t stayed true to ourselves,” Baker said.
“We didn’t act like you’d expect Mozilla to act. We didn’t move fast enough to engage with people once the controversy started. We’re sorry. We must do better.”
“Our mission will always be to make the Web more open so that humanity is stronger, more inclusive and more just: that’s what it means to protect the open Web.”
