Marieke Flament Resigns as CEO of Near Foundation
Marieke Flament, the CEO of Near Foundation, which is the developer of the Near Protocol layer-1 protocol, has stepped down from her position. The announcement was made on September 21, stating that Chris Donovan, the general counsel of Near Foundation, will replace Flament as the new CEO. Flament did not provide a specific reason for her departure.
Flament’s Tenure and Achievements
Reflecting on her time at Near Foundation, Flament expressed her initial unfamiliarity with NEAR but recognized its potential after conducting research and having conversations about the project. During her tenure, she highlighted the growth of Near Protocol, with daily active users increasing from 50,000 to 3 million and Twitter followers growing from 200,000 to over 2 million. Near also secured numerous partnerships with well-known entities such as Alibaba, Amazon, Google, and KPMG.
Near Foundation’s Treasury Balance
Flament disclosed that the current treasury balance of the Near Foundation stands at 330 million NEAR (NEAR), equivalent to approximately $350 million. This substantial financial position reflects the success and growth of the project under Flament’s leadership.
New Leadership Strategy
Flament emphasized her strategy of driving mainstream adoption for Near Protocol while empowering grassroots communities and progressing towards decentralization. She also highlighted the importance of bringing on board established web2 players while nurturing web3 innovators to fuel growth.
Near Protocol’s Market Position
NEAR currently holds the 40th position in terms of market capitalization, estimated at $1.04 billion. In June, Škoda Auto, a Czech automobile conglomerate, launched a nonfungible token platform on the Near Protocol.
Hot Take: A New Chapter Begins for Near Foundation
With Marieke Flament stepping down as CEO, Near Foundation enters a new chapter under the leadership of Chris Donovan. Flament’s tenure saw significant growth and achievements for Near Protocol, including a substantial increase in users and partnerships. The project’s treasury balance also reflects its financial strength. As Near continues to make strides in the crypto industry, its new CEO will play a crucial role in driving further adoption and innovation within the ecosystem.