Shortly after her appointment, Holly Million is leaving her post as Chief Executive of the GNOME Foundation. Her resignation is set for July 31, 2024. Richard Littauer, a seasoned member of the open-source circle, will fulfill the role of Interim Executive Director during the transition.

During her brief time in office, Holly Million spearheaded key initiatives such as creating a detailed five-year strategic vision and finalizing crucial financial partnerships with GIMP and Black Python Devs.

Furthermore, her adept financial management led to achieving a neutral budget that bolstered the Foundation’s fiscal stability. Holly expressed her gratitude to the community as she readies herself to step down and divulged her future plans: “I’m proud of my accomplishments… I’m pursuing a Psychology PhD and delving into my private practice.“

Her choice of psychology as a field of study is not unexpected given her primary profession as a professional shaman. This aspect puzzled many supporters of open-source software when she was appointed, considering her lack of experience in open-source projects and the variance from her primary field of expertise. However, that is now history.

The newly appointed Interim Executive Director, Richard Littauer, brings a wealth of experience in managing open-source projects and fostering community growth.

His background includes roles at SustainOSS and CURIOSS, as well as serving as the sustainability coordinator at the Open Source Initiative and overseeing community development at Open Source Collective.

This extensive experience positions him well to guide the Foundation through its ongoing period of transition.

The GNOME Board of Directors commended Holly for her dynamic leadership and strategic decisions that have set the Foundation on a trajectory for future achievements.

Plans are underway to recruit a permanent Executive Director, with specific details expected after the GUADEC conference.

Hence, the forthcoming Annual General Meeting at the GUADEC conference in Denver will be pivotal for the GNOME community. It will serve as a platform for discussions and laying out the roadmap for the forthcoming phase of change.

For more details, please refer to the official statement.