Web Summit chief Katherine Maher steps down after three months in the role

Katherine Maher, chief executive officer of Web Summit, delivering her speech on the opening day of the Web Summit in Lisbon, Portugal in November. 

Web Summit Chief Executive Katherine Maher is stepping down after just three months in the role.

Maher took over the role of Web Summit chief in October following the resignation of outspoken founder and chief Paddy Cosgrave. She is to take up the role of chief executive of US media firm National Public Radio (NPR).

She will take up the new role on March 1 but will remain as a non-executive Chair of the board of directors on Web Summit. In a statement, the Web Summit board said it has already begun the search for a new chief executive.

Cosgrave stepped down after his comments led to a number of major tech companies announcing they were withdrawing from the organisation's flagship event in Lisbon. Maher took over the role just weeks before the Lisbon conference began and led Web Summit through its inaugural event in Qatar.

“I have absolutely loved leading the Web Summit team," she said. "Even in a short space of time I have seen the determination, passion, and creativity across teams to continuously deliver incredible events to the world. While I’m sad to leave as CEO, I am thrilled to contribute in a different way as Chair, continuing to work with the executive team through 2024 and beyond."

NPR is seen as an iconic American media institution. It has a weekly audience of 44 million people. 

Web Summit also announced that it has appointed Craig Becker, its Chief Events Officer as an executive board director. 

“We congratulate Katherine on the incredibly important appointment to lead NPR, one of America’s most trusted and award-winning media institutions," Becker said. "Katherine has had an immense impact on the company, and we thank her for her invaluable knowledge, expertise and contribution as CEO. We are delighted Katherine will continue to play a vital role as Executive Chair."