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Wikimedia board official responds to editors: Geshuri is an “excellent candidate”

Geshuri: "Company policies... evolve over time as circumstances change."

Arnnon Geshuri, appointed to the Wikimedia Foundation board in January 2016.

The newest board member of the Wikimedia Foundation, Arnnon Geshuri, is under fire from hundreds of disgruntled editors who think he should be shown the door. They're upset at his role in a "no poach" hiring arrangement between Google, Apple, and other major tech companies while he was an HR director at Google.

Today, Geshuri addressed the community that's up in arms against him. In a message posted to the Wikimedia-l mailing list, Geshuri began by saying it was "truly inspirational" to witness the "commitment and energy of the community." His note reads, in part:

Although I would have preferred the tone surrounding my appointment to be more positive and supportive, I deeply understand and respect the criticality of free expression, rallying around convictions, and open disagreement.

Regarding the concerns that have been raised, I have listened closely. That said, in my opinion, there are some misconceptions and there are mitigating considerations. As a general matter, I will say that, throughout my career, I have been charged with enforcing company policies as part of my role as a people manager. I have tried to do so thoughtfully and consistently. I have done so realizing company policies and practices evolve over time as circumstances change.

Geshuri said he's spending his time reaching out to current and former Wikimedia board members, as well as community members.

"I know I have a longer journey than most new Board members to prove to the community and WMF alumni that they can put their trust in me," he concluded. "As the community gets to know me, folks will see the way I work is with thoughtfulness, transparency, diversity, and a focus on doing what is right."

Geshuri's message was followed with a note to the same list from Alice Wiegand, who is presently the Vice-Chair of the Wikimedia Foundation Board of Trustees. She told editors that the board "has read your messages and is discussing the concerns you have raised about Arnnon Geshuri's appointment." She described Geshuri as an "excellent candidate" who had earned the board's support.

"We understand this conversation will continue, and we will continue to monitor it," she wrote. "However, we want to be clear that the Board approved Arnnon unanimously and still believes he is a valuable member of the team."

Wiegand acknowledged it was a "brief update" and said the board would provide more information soon. The few editors who responded to the mailing list suggest Geshuri's note wasn't well-received.

"There are black and white facts which make you unsuitable to be a WMF trustee," wrote Fae, the Wikipedia user who initiated the "no confidence" vote. "Your email statement does not address these key problems and manages to use a lot of peacock prose which when struck out amounts to 'Wikimedians should move along now, nothing to see.'"

At press time, the "no-confidence" vote stands at 251 editors asking for Geshuri to be removed from the board and 20 opposing his removal. The editors' vote is not legally binding in any way.

The Wikipedia editors voting for removal are upset about e-mails revealed in court proceedings that show an e-mail exchange between Geshuri and then-Google CEO Eric Schmidt. When a Google recruiter tried to reach out to an Apple employee, in violation of the company's policy against "cold calls," Geshuri told Schmidt the recruiter would be "terminated within the hour."

Ars requested additional comment for this story from Geshuri, Wiegand, and the Wikimedia Foundation but received no response.

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