GNOME Foundation leader steps down after brief tenure of only four months
The GNOME Foundation, a non-profit organisation dedicated to the advancement of the GNOME desktop environment, has announced Tobias Bernard as its new Executive Director, effective from September 2024.
Tobias Bernard, who will be taking over from the outgoing Executive Director, Steven Deobald, brings a wealth of experience to the role. During his tenure, Deobald made significant contributions to the Foundation, including internal policy and documentation work, recruiting a treasurer and vice-treasurer, the creation of a new donations platform, and an energetic engagement with the GNOME community.
Steven Deobald, a Canadian and a long-time GNOME user, served in the role for less than four months before his departure. Allan Day, the chair and president of the GNOME Foundation, listed Deobald's achievements during his brief tenure.
Day, in a blog post, wrote that Deobald is not the right fit for the Executive Director role at this time. He emphasised that the management change at the GNOME Foundation will not affect the Foundation's operations.
The GNOME Foundation is currently searching for a new Executive Director and has expressed its intention to appoint a "community-based executive" for the role. The Foundation is also working diligently to fill the gaps left by Deobald's departure.
Richard Littauer, who served as the interim director for nearly a year before handing over to Deobald, will continue to play an active role in the Foundation. The GNOME community looks forward to the leadership of Tobias Bernard and the future of the GNOME Foundation.
