Misplaced Ire

Yesterday I posted about REvolution Computing and my unexpected change in employment status.  My friend and former direct-report David M Smith, who remains at REvo and took a promotion in the same reorganization, caught the brunt of negative comments concerning REvo's actions on his blog announcing the company's new leadership.  David's blog about the R Language is one of the most popular on that subject today, and controversy there is rare, those comments really caught his attention.

I would like to say that David didn't make the decisions that led to last week's debacle, in fact he tried to convince the new management that they were being hasty and leaving important work unfinished in enacting their reorg plans.  I take comments on David's blog such as...

"I'm sure the open source community into which you gained so much insight will take careful note of the way you have treated all the people who got you this far. Summary dismissal without severance is a lousy way to say "thanks", no matter how you try to sugar coat it here.

I hope your future business doesn't depend on any of us because we have long memories."

...to be directed at those who joined REvo along with the funding, and not at hardworking and honorable people just trying to remain employed through difficult times.  David and many of those left behind at REvo expressed their concern and compassion directly to we who were asked to leave and it was clear to all of us that they were concerned by the actions taken and would have done differently.

So while I continue to believe that REvolution just got much less interesting, I would gladly work with David Smith again and continue to call him my friend.  In fact I'm having dinner with him Friday night.

Comments

[Jay]

Lovely note, Danese. I may just crash your dinner!

[Danese Cooper]

Thanks, Jay. It would be great to see you.

[Matt]

Danese - sounds like a pretty brutal transition. It's been a while since I've heard about a start up getting a round of funding, but only with a precondition of "moving aside" the current management team...

Hopefully your next opportunity is soon in coming and a little less chaotic.

- Matt

[Ajay]

And what happened after the Dinner??