OpenWeb, a Samsung-backed billion-dollar tech company, has just announced a new CEO. The only problem? Its founder, Nadav Shoval, is refusing to step down from the top job.
Earlier this week, OpenWeb’s board announced Shoval was being replaced by the content moderation platform’s chairman, Tim Harvey—and the news didn’t go down with its current leader, who went on to blast his bosses and deny the transition in an email to all staff.
The Israeli tech entrepreneur then continued his rant publicly on LinkedIn, where he claimed that he had been sacked for calling out “concerning conduct” and that he does not “accept” his removal.
“I have not stepped down as OpenWeb’s CEO,” Shoval wrote on the networking platform yesterday.
“I recently notified the Company that they breached my contract, which was intended to directly call out concerning conduct by the Board of Directors. Instead of addressing the issues, the Board chose to announce a leadership transition at a sudden Company-wide meeting, continuing to act against OpenWeb’s best interests.”
“I will continue to fight for OpenWeb’s mission and purpose alongside our team,” Shoval concluded.
Fortune reached out to Shoval, Harvey, and OpenWeb for comment.
The CEO’s clashing emails to employees
“The board has falsely stated that I am stepping out of my role as CEO," Shoval echoed in an email to OpenWeb’s staff, according to multiple outlets.
"Let me be clear: that is not true and not my intent.”
The drama continued when OpenWeb’s incoming chief responded to his predecessor's company-wide email, doubling down that he is taking the helm while apologizing for the confusion.
“We are progressing with the CEO transition process as planned,” Harvey wrote in a subsequent email to staff, reports the Israeli outlet CTech.
“As we move forward, we are committed to handling this situation with the utmost respect for all individuals involved and acknowledging their contributions to OpenWeb... Our priority remains the continued success, stability and providing value to our partners."
OpenWeb’s view on the matter
OpenWeb, which was valued at $1.5 billion in 2022, did not respond to Fortune’s request for comment.
However, in a statement to CTech and other local outlets including Geektime, OpenWeb said that it “welcomes Tim Harvey as interim CEO in place of Nadav Shoval” while thanking Shoval “for his passion and contribution as founder and CEO of OpenWeb.”
"Tim, a former advisor and board member at OpenWeb, is well-acquainted with the business and brings over 30 years of leadership experience in high-growth, venture-backed, and public companies,” the statement read.
“The company remains on a strong growth trajectory with a clear strategy and a talented team. The leadership team is committed to maintaining our momentum and delivering continued success."
Despite Shoval’s refusal to step down from the company he founded in 2011, all mention of the founder has already been removed from OpenWeb’s website—where Harvey is now listed as interim CEO.
