Cosgrave is back as CEO after being criticised for his comments about Israel
Paddy Cosgrave announced on Monday that he was returning to lead the Web Summit almost six months after resigning following controversy regarding statements he made about Israel.
“Today I return as CEO [executive chairman] of Web Summit,” said the Web Summit co-founder in a message posted on social media. He noted that when he resigned last year, “it was the first time” he had taken time off in 15 years.
“It gave me time to think about Web Summit, its history, why I started it alone in my bedroom and what I wanted it to be,” says Paddy Cosgrave.
On October 21, Paddy Cosgrave resigned from his post after several companies cancelled their participation in the event in Lisbon following statements he made about Israel and, nine days later, it was announced that former Wikimedia Foundation director Katherine Maher would be the new CEO.
“I took the opportunity to reconnect with old friends from the Web Summit and hear what they had to say and what they wanted” from the tech summit, he continues.
“Some incredible technological breakthroughs, relationships, partnerships and companies have grown out of our events, and I want to continue to build on that,” he adds, emphasising that he wants to further accelerate “this mission” of building “even stronger communities within Web Summit”.
Paddy Cosgrave emphasised that he is “incredibly excited about the future with so much more to share.”
When he resigned as CEO, Cosgrave “apologised” for his comments about Israel on the social network X (formerly Twitter) on October 13, a publication that sparked a lot of criticism.
“I’m shocked at the rhetoric and actions of so many Western leaders & governments, with the exception in particular of Ireland’s government, who for once are doing the right thing. War crimes are war crimes even when committed by allies, and should be called out for what they are,” said Paddy Cosgrave said at the time, alluding to the conflict between Israel and Hamas.
After the wave of criticism, Paddy Cosgrave apologised, which didn’t stop several companies from cancelling their participation in the Web Summit.
According to the latest figures from the Gaza Health Ministry, 33,175 people have been killed in the war that began six months ago, after Hamas attacked Israeli territory on 7 October, killing around 1,200 people.
Source: LUSA
Updated on Monday at 4.28pm
