Ryan Selkis Quits as Messari CEO Following Inflammatory Tweets

Ryan Selkis resigns as CEO of Messari after making controversial political statements, with Chief Revenue Officer Eric Turner taking over as interim CEO.

Points

• Ryan Selkis resigns due to inflammatory tweets.
• Eric Turner appointed as interim CEO.
• Selkis transitions to a senior adviser role.
• Tweets included incitements to violence and anti-immigration rhetoric.

Ryan Selkis, co-founder and former CEO of Messari, has stepped down following a series of inflammatory tweets about politics, civil war, and anti-immigration sentiments. The departure follows a backlash from his recent social media activity, which escalated after an assassination attempt on former president Donald Trump.

Selkis announced his resignation on X, stating, “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.” He will now focus on long-term strategy in a senior adviser role.

Selkis’s controversial tweets included statements like “Anyone that votes against Trump at this point can die in a f—king fire” and calls for “literal war.” He also faced criticism for telling a green card holder, “I hope we send you back,” during an online exchange. Despite deleting these comments, the damage was significant enough to prompt his resignation.

Messari’s Chief Revenue Officer Eric Turner will serve as interim CEO. Turner emphasized that Selkis’s public persona does not reflect Messari’s internal operations and that the company will continue business as usual. The leadership held a “tough love” session with Selkis before his decision to step down, highlighting the company’s commitment to maintaining a professional and inclusive work environment.

解説

• Leadership Changes: The resignation of a high-profile CEO can have immediate and long-term impacts on a company’s direction and market perception. Eric Turner’s interim role aims to stabilize Messari during this period of transition.
• Public Accountability: The incident underscores the importance of accountability for public statements, especially from influential figures in the crypto industry. Social media posts can have significant professional repercussions.
• Corporate Governance: Effective corporate governance involves managing both internal operations and external perceptions. Messari’s swift response to Selkis’s controversial statements demonstrates a commitment to upholding corporate values and protecting the company’s reputation.
• Strategic Transition: By transitioning Selkis to a senior adviser role, Messari retains his strategic insights while mitigating the impact of his controversial public statements. This approach allows the company to continue benefiting from his expertise in a less visible capacity.