Exciting Leadership Changes at Celo Foundation
The Celo Foundation has recently announced significant changes in its senior leadership to strengthen the Celo ecosystem’s transition to Ethereum Layer-2. These changes include the promotion of Eric Nakagawa as Executive Director and Isha Varshney as Head of Ecosystem.
Eric Nakagawa’s New Role
Eric Nakagawa, who previously held the position of Head of Developer Relations at Celo Foundation for nearly three years, has been appointed as the Executive Director. As a key figure in the development of the Diem blockchain and the Move language, Nakagawa brings a wealth of experience from his time at Facebook and Novi Financial to his new role. Joining the Celo Foundation board, Nakagawa will oversee the foundation’s daily operations.
- Nakagawa has a background in tech giants such as Facebook and Novi Financial.
- He played a pivotal role in the development of the Diem blockchain and the Move language.
- Nakagawa co-founded the popular meme website icanhazcheezburger and was part of the early Ripple team.
Isha Varshney’s Promotion
Isha Varshney, previously the Head of DeFi at Celo Foundation, has been promoted to Head of Ecosystem. With over two years of experience at the foundation, Varshney has been instrumental in leading DeFi partnerships and strategy. In her new position, Varshney will be responsible for fostering collaboration with global projects building on Celo and driving business development initiatives.
New Developer Relations Lead
Sophia Dew has taken over as the new Head of Developer Relations as Eric Nakagawa transitions to his new role. Dew’s previous experience as the Tech Lead for Gitcoin’s Public Goods Network (PGN) equips her well for this position. Her expertise will be crucial as cLabs migrates Celo to an Ethereum Layer-2 using the OP Stack.
“I’m excited to support builders in creating a more sustainable and inclusive future within the Celo ecosystem,” said Dew. “The mission of Celo resonates with my passion for environmental sustainability and financial inclusion.”
Strategic Initiatives for Growth
These leadership changes coincide with a period of significant growth for Celo. The platform has experienced a surge in daily active users (DAUs) and has surpassed 400 million total transactions over the last year. Initiatives such as Opera’s MiniPay wallet and the TGE advisory initiative Bloom are expected to further fuel this growth momentum.
Celo, as an emerging Ethereum Layer-2 network, prioritizes fast and low-cost payments with a mobile-first approach. Launched on Earth Day in 2020, Celo boasts a diverse ecosystem of over 1,000 projects working towards its global mission of creating prosperity for all.
Hot Take: Transformative Leadership for Celo
The recent leadership changes at Celo Foundation mark a pivotal moment in the organization’s journey towards Ethereum Layer-2 integration. With Eric Nakagawa assuming the role of Executive Director and Isha Varshney as the Head of Ecosystem, Celo is poised to leverage their expertise for strategic growth and development. The appointment of Sophia Dew as the new Head of Developer Relations further strengthens Celo’s commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration within its ecosystem.
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