Messari CEO Ryan Selkis Steps Down After His ‘Politics and Rhetoric Put the Team in Harm’s Way’

Messari CEO Ryan Selkis resigns following controversial political comments, with Chief Revenue Officer Eric Turner taking over as the new CEO.

Points

• Ryan Selkis resigns as CEO of Messari.
• Controversial political comments cited as the reason.
• Chief Revenue Officer Eric Turner appointed as new CEO.
• Selkis to transition to a senior adviser role.

Ryan Selkis, the founder and CEO of crypto data and research platform Messari, has resigned from his position, attributing his departure to his controversial political comments online. In a post on X, Selkis stated, “This week was the first week in 6.5 years that my politics and rhetoric put the team in harm’s way. As such, I have decided to step aside as CEO.”

Selkis’s resignation comes after he made several inflammatory statements following an assassination attempt on former U.S. president and current Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Despite deleting his comments and making his X account private, the posts were captured and reposted by Molly White, who runs the crypto-critical publication “Web3 is Going Just Great.”

Messari’s Chief Revenue Officer, Eric Turner, will take over as the firm’s CEO. In a published statement, Selkis expressed gratitude for the “tough love” session he had with the Messari leadership, acknowledging their efforts to help rein him in. He plans to transition to a senior adviser role, focusing on long-term strategy for the company.

Selkis’s controversial comments included statements like “Anyone that votes against Trump at this point can die in a f—king fire” and calling for “literal war.” Despite expressing regret over his comments, the backlash was significant enough to prompt his resignation.

解説

• Leadership Change: Leadership transitions in companies can significantly impact their direction and performance. Eric Turner’s appointment as CEO could bring new strategies and stability to Messari after Selkis’s controversial departure.
• Impact of Public Statements: The incident underscores the potential repercussions of public statements by high-profile individuals. In the digital age, comments made online can quickly escalate and impact professional roles and company reputation.
• Political Sensitivity: Selkis’s resignation highlights the sensitivity around political statements in professional settings. Companies must navigate the balance between personal expression and the potential impact on business operations and team dynamics.
• Strategic Focus: With Selkis transitioning to a senior adviser role, Messari can benefit from his long-term vision while mitigating the immediate impact of his political rhetoric. This approach allows the company to leverage his expertise without ongoing controversy.