Web Summit Founder Reinstated as CEO Following Controversial Comments on Israel Conflict

In a move that echoes Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg's shift towards a more community-focused approach after the 2016 U.S. election scandal, Paddy Cosgrave, the co-founder of the renowned technology conference Web Summit, has made a notable return to his position as CEO. His reinstatement comes after resigning in October of the previous year due to contentious remarks made on social media regarding the conflict between Israel and Hamas, as reported by TechCrunch.

Rumors of Cosgrave's potential return to the company began circulating over the weekend, with an official confirmation surfacing on Monday through a social media post on platform X. In his statement, Cosgrave did not address the comments that led to his departure nearly six months ago. Instead, he opted for a tone of de-escalation, announcing plans to shift the focus towards smaller, more intimate groups, TechCrunch notes.

"Our aim as Web Summit continues to grow is to make it feel smaller for our participants. More intimate. Friendlier. More community-oriented," wrote Cosgrave.

This strategic redirection is reminiscent of Zuckerberg's pivot towards "community" following a major scandal involving Facebook, highlighted by issues such as Cambridge Analytica, election interference, and subsequent Congressional hearings.

Web Summit, which hosts a series of global tech conferences with its flagship event in Lisbon, has attracted over 70,000 attendees in recent years. The event roster also includes smaller, more exclusive gatherings. However, the flagship event experienced turbulence last year when major tech sponsors withdrew their participation a few weeks before the Lisbon summit, following Cosgrave's controversial statements.

The scandal erupted shortly after October 7, 2024, a day marked by a mass killing of Israeli citizens by Hamas. Cosgrave posted data on human casualties in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from 2008 to 2023 but, for reasons unexplained, omitted any reference to the tragic events of those days. He also expressed support for the Irish government's criticism of Israel's purported plans to cut off Gaza's water and electricity supply as part of its war strategy.

Major sponsors, including Microsoft and Google, pulled out from the conference in response. Under pressure, Cosgrave issued an apology for his posts and resigned from his role as CEO.

In anticipation of the Lisbon conference, Web Summit swiftly appointed Katherine Maher, former CEO of Wikimedia, as Cosgrave's replacement, with Cosgrave retaining 80% ownership in the business. However, Maher departed Web Summit a few months later for the CEO position at NPR, setting the stage for Cosgrave's return.

Cosgrave founded Web Summit in 2009 in Dublin, alongside David Kelly and Daire Hickey, before moving the event to Portugal in 2016. The conference rapidly became the largest tech event in Europe, drawing participants from around the world.