Wikimedia Foundation/Chief Executive Officer/Updates/May 2025 Update/ja

個人的な情報更新

皆さん、こんにちは

かつて2021年後半に多くのみなさんにお会いした後、CEO として私の道のりを定期的にシェアしようと努めてきましたが、今年はもっと頻度を高めたいと望んでいます。本日は、もっと個人的なニュースをお伝えしようと思います。

およそ1年前に、財団理事会に働きかけて、私自身が将来像を考え始めたのと合わせ、ウィキメディア財団 CEO 職の交代計画に着手するようにお願いしていました。本日は、ウィキペディアの創設25周年にあたる2026年1月着任を目処に、理事会がいよいよ次代 CEO 募集を開始したことをお伝えします。次のリーダーに継承する来年の年頭まで私自身は在任しますし、慎重かつ秩序ある、計画的な移行のために長期のタイムフレームを準備する所存です。この移行は理事会と共に、しばらく時間を費やして慎重に整えてきましたから、きちんと進めるつもりです。

What gives me the confidence to share this decision now, even as we face an external environment full of change, is that our next leader will inherit an organization that I believe is ready for what’s ahead and stronger than it’s ever been. I am certain that we have the right people in place across the Foundation to deal with anything that comes our way, now and into the future. The Wikimedia movement has collectively overcome challenges all over the world for the past two decades. That is not going to change at this moment, or anytime soon.

This community over the past 25 years has matured from a small project run out of a closet to a powerful global force that has been described as the "factual netting that holds the whole digital world together." We have collectively improved our capabilities as a movement by growing technical infrastructure and expanding content that helps close knowledge gaps. We have seen more support globally and a higher level of trust in Wikipedia amid the rise of AI tools and chatbots. Recognition of the Wikimedia projects continues to increase as the hallmark of a digital public good.

Responsible transitions are not just about continuity — they are about imagining an even greater future. As we begin preparations to mark Wikipedia’s 25th anniversary next January, I believe we have a rare opportunity to more visibly promote Wikimedia’s values, principles, and policies. This can be the simple act of talking to more people around us about why Wikipedia is uniquely different compared to many other online platforms. It can be educating more lawmakers about Wikipedia’s distinct policies and practices, designed to produce neutral and unbiased content in an increasingly polarized world. It can be joining more community discussions and movement conversations about how to support the volunteers trusted to implement these critical policies. It can be welcoming and mentoring new generations of contributors to sustain Wikipedia’s policies and values into the future. And it can be collaborating to spread the word about why the Wikimedia projects are a cherished public good that deserve nurturing and protection.

We all have a role to play in ensuring Wikipedia never stops evolving, improving, and living up to its remarkable vision for every single human to share in the sum of all knowledge. People everywhere love Wikipedia and they are inspired by this vision.    

The Foundation is ready to lead and support these vital contributions. In my time here, our  planning has been redesigned to respond to global trends, persistently asking what the world needs from us. We prioritized product and technology to remain firmly at the center of our investments and attention. We slowed and right-sized the Foundation’s growth in line with responsible financial planning, while consistently increasing funding to volunteers and movement entities. We have worked hard to significantly improve our communications with all of you. And we have very deliberately strengthened our risk preparedness to continue protecting volunteers and defending the Wikimedia projects.

I am proud of what has been accomplished to make us stronger and ready for the future. My focus now is to continue moving the Foundation’s important work forward. Much remains to be done before next year – finalizing and executing our annual plan and budget, managing our risks, growing our technology investments and grants, iterating on pilots to decentralize decision-making, and so much more.

Together with the Board of Trustees, we have been carefully and intentionally planning to make this the most stable, orderly, and successful CEO transition the Foundation has ever had. The next CEO will lead an experienced and committed executive team who you recently heard from in their January letter. This team includes Chief Product and Technology Officer Selena Deckelmann, General Counsel Stephen LaPorte, Chief Advancement Officer Lisa Seitz Gruwell, Chief Communications Officer Anusha Alikhan, Chief Financial Officer Jaime Villagomez and Chief People Officer Courtney Bass Sherizen.

今後の会議やイベント、カンファレンスやウィキマニアを含めた会合で、多くの皆さんとお話しする機会を設けます。合わせて私のこれまでの歩みを支えてくださったことに、感謝を申したいのです。対話を希望される人は、直接、私または財団の幹部あるいは理事にご連絡をお願いします。メールを私宛に送るか、財団のリーダー陣との面談はLet's talkを通じて申し入れてください。

Maryana

Maryana Iskander, Wikimedia Foundation CEO