mastodon - Link to source

Today I am stepping down from my role as the CEO of #Mastodon. Though this has been in the works for a while, I can't say I've fully processed how I feel about it. There is a bittersweet part to it, and I think I will miss it, but it also felt necessary. It feels like a goodbye, but it isn't—I intend to stay on and continue to advise the new leadership and contribute, because Mastodon—and the fediverse—is one of the very few beacons of hope for a better web.

blog.joinmastodon.org/2025/11/…

My next chapter with Mastodon

Reflections on my time leading the Mastodon project.
Mastodon Blog
#Mastodon
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Klaudia (aka jinxx)

Wow. Letting go is always kind of hard. Thank you for giving us a truly social platform and designing a whole part of the fediverse that's – hopefully – here to stay. I'm very much willing to do my part in maintaining this beacon of hope for the free and democratic world and do my humble steps – way behind you. Thank you and very much looking forward to keeping in touch here.
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Paul Schoe

Thanks Eugen. You have delivered a tool that opened a window to return to the original intention of the Internet.

Your focus on decentralisation brought thousands of communities the ability to communicate safely. Among themselves or in connection to others.

The Fediverse wouldn't be where it is now without your tenacity and focus to bring Mastodon to where it is now.

You have the respect and gratitude of many.

#Mastodon #Eugen #Rochko #Vision

#Mastodon #Vision #Rochko #eugen
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Eugen Rochko

RE: mastodon.social/@mellifluousbo…

I am passing the torch to @mellifluousbox, who will be the new Executive Director. Felix has been involved with #Mastodon since 2020 and has been instrumental in evolving the organization, raising funds, and growing the team to get us to where we are now. With @haubles and @renchap by his side, and the team we have assembled over the years, I have faith that the new leadership will do a stellar job.

Felix Hlatky

2025-11-18 07:53:00

mastodon - Link to source

Hi! Today is my first official day as the Executive Director of Mastodon, replacing @Gargron as CEO. I joined the Mastodon team more than 5 years ago, mostly working for Mastodon in the evenings on top of a 120% day job. I was the driving force behind the incorporation of the German non-profit, am a co-founder of the US 501c3 non-profit, and I have contributed to most of the fundraising success, which allowed us to expand the team.
(1/13)

#Mastodon @Felix Hlatky @Renaud Chaput @hannah aubry
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

nico beastie boyce

(late to your news here so you're probably tired of talking about it but I still wanted to say) well done for making the decision it sounds like you were needing to make and also have you given yourself time recently to be like "look at this crazy thing I did" because wow, who knew this kind of thing was even possible for a real human with empathy etc
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

❄️SnowyIn🇨🇦❄️

I thank you for all you've done to create Mastodon, and though I know you will still have an influence I wish you well on your new endeavours.
As you step away somewhat, I just want to say this:
As a senior citizen, a non-tech person, someone who through the years opened various social media accounts then feeling dissatisfied for the many reasons most are here, closed each one and ultimately decided to stay off of social media platforms, I am thankful I found Mastodon.
This space, Mastodon, the fediverse, is unique because of diversity --people of differing opinions, ways of life, genders, education levels, cultures, geographical location and so on...and sure little conflicts arise, often heated discussions, once in a while hate slips in and moderators take action...but overall I think the concept behind Mastodon/Fediverse is what unites everyone.
I think most people I know here would agree, our time here is well spent because we learn from each other.
You facilitated this, the creation of a unique place, and for that this old person sends a big thank you.
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Ian Malcolm

"I have so much passion for Mastodon and the fediverse. The fediverse is an island within an increasingly dystopian capitalist hellscape. And from my perspective, Mastodon is our best shot at bringing this vision of a better future to the masses."

Thanks for all that you've done (which I believe your above comment summarises the most key part of, IMHO), and I wish you all the very best for a happy (and less stressful) future in every way!

in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

ImaCrea

Thank you for your dedication and excellence in being able to keep the project faithful to its original ethos. It is a very rare thing to see in the environment of digital products of that kind of scale, and I hope this will inspire others to follow that direction. Especially in our troubled times. Thank you again and I can't wait to see how it's going to evolve! Good luck to @mellifluousbox @haubles @renchap and the whole crew and contributors! 💫
@Felix Hlatky @Renaud Chaput @hannah aubry
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Veronica Olsen

Thanks a lot for creating this space. It has truely been a haven in the chaos of exploitation that commercial social media has become. I've had accounts on here since some time in 2019, because I tried every new platform that was built. I'm glad Mastodon got to be the one that made it work. I donate monthly to the organisation, and there are few places on the internet where I get as much for my money as on here.
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Britstralian

Bravissimo Eugene! Every founder's dream should be to build an organisation that can be run by others: this is, surely, the best mark of maturity.

Mastodon is a truly wonderful - and exceptionally important - creation. Traditional investors and business folk might lament lack of (even) faster growth, and urge the raising of much more capital to 'leverage' what you and the team have built so far.

But, as you obviously know, that type of investment sows the seeds of enshittification.

in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Fedi.Tips

Thank you for all your work on building this place, especially your prioritising of non-technical people who want to use decentralised social networks. Mastodon being aimed at a general non-technical audience was a real breakthrough, as was curating instance lists, the covenant etc.

And thank you especially for putting the project's non-profit status first when you turned down buyouts in 2022, this was a crucial moment that showed real integrity.

All the best for your future 👏

This entry was edited (2 months ago)
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Anubis Vlad Tepas 𓃢𓃡𓃣

The fact that you’re stepping down rather than becoming a neurotic megalomaniac is the very proof that you were the right person for the job. Prioritising yourself as a human being is a great example for a safe and sane Internet.

Thanks for all you’ve done and welcome on the Fediverse’s backseat. It ain’t that bad. You can see the driver while enjoying the view!

in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

lj·rk

I think this is a great step. Not because you did bad work, to the contrary! You did amazing work but at some point it feels inevitable that one burns out with such responsibility and things take a turn for the worse. Even with best and friendliest of people. Stepping down before that happens is a humbling move.

Thank you for the time you served as CEO and looking forward to your future contributions as an advisor!

in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

snow (wicche)quean

even though I haven’t agreed with all your decisions, I think you’re making the right choice here, and I say that in the sense of you deserving to work on what feels comfortable for you. Some people have made a lot of assumptions about what your priorities are and why m.s has had problems, without ever having tried to do anything like what you’re doing. Even if I would still have gone about stuff in a different way from my own experience, I respect your efforts and wish you well.
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

斎藤ただし

Vielen dank Eugen, ありがとう!!

When I learn that someone like you--who has done such wonderful work for so many people--has personally suffered, I feel truly painful and sad. No one would ever be happy to be unfairly oppressed.
I sincerely hope that you, just as you are, can continue your calm and positive path (with your wonderful wife by your side!).

With respect and gratitude from Tokyo, Japan :)

in reply to Eugen Rochko

glitchsoc - Link to source

Mike Johnston

thank you for your hard work and best of luck with your future endeavors. Thanks to mastodon I've felt like I can return to social media empowered by my own self hosted instance. It's something I never thought possible at this level of engagement and scale of community.
Welcome @mellifluousbox and I look forward to seeing your direction take shape!
Bravo to the whole team for getting this far and still pressing forward 🎉
@Felix Hlatky
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

TAC3Thomas

I'm sorry to see you leaving your position Eugen. You built a platform that has more value than money. I do; however, understrand the importance of self-care and what stress can do to a person. So, with that, "good on you". Take good care of yourself, you are a great human being and an awesome contibutor. I'm also glad to see you will still have a hand in the project. (Keep then honest)!
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Renaud Berthier

Thanks for many things you've done! Maybe we could reopen this PR then:
github.com/mastodon/mastodon/p…

Added underlines to links in toots by aardrian · Pull Request #9898 · mastodon/mastodon

Link text color is #f1ebff, surrounding text is #ffffff. They have a contrast ratio of 1.2:1. Not only is hard to see links that are so close in color to the text, they also require a pointing devi...
GitHub
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Pxl Phile

I don't know if you'll read this, but thanks for truely great work which has brought some little hope into my heart in this age of full speed enshittification.

I am sorry to read comments have chipped things away from your inner self. And, you are right that you created something that is bigger than yourself, but for a better part.

So, I hope you get well in your feelings again. Thanks again for creating Mastodon ❤️💪🏾

in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Toni

.@Gargron por mi te puedes ir lejos y no volver-
#Mastodon no es mas que otra red de las redes del fediverso que desaparecerá y surgiran de nuevas al lado de las que ya hay, mastodon se metió en el fediverse, siendo una calcomania de Twitter y wsin #GNUsocial nunca hubiera sido nada, sin el #fediverse y ahora parece ser segun ustedes que mastodon hizó al fediverse y NO-

#fediverse >> fediverse.party/
Mastodon solo es un pedacito del fediverse-

No se dice eso en las migraciones

- Fediverse.Party - explore federated networks

Let's make social media free, federated and fun! Fediverse.Party is your guide into the world of decentralized, autonomous networks running on free open software on a myriad of servers across the world. No ads and no algorithms.
fediverse.party
#Mastodon #fediverse #GNUSocial @Eugen Rochko
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

West Bennett

you accomplished something monumental here, Mr. Rochko.

You helped give the world back control of their social media, their very memories, from the clutches of the multinational corporations.

You've helped to rebuild a decentralized internet - the way it was always meant to be.

Someday, your name will be up there with Tim Berners-Lee, Steve Wozniak, and Larry Page, as one of the visionaries that helped connect the world together.

... we're just not there, quite yet.

But your work, here, will pave the way for that to happen. You've helped DEMOCRATIZE the internet. Now any schlub (like me) that's half-competent with computers and can get their hands on an old "throw-away" hunk of metal and plastic can spin up their own little server and connect to a larger social world.

And be found.

Thank you, Mr. Rochko, for helping free us, and for helping connect us.

o7

This entry was edited (2 months ago)
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

glyn

Well done @Gargron for everything you've achieved in the last decade! Your principles set you far above certain others in the social media space and I really appreciate your integrity and drive. It's a good decision to change roles and I'm optimistic about the future of Mastodon with you still around for guidance. I hope you take this opportunity for some well-deserved rest and recreation. Finally: thank you!
@Eugen Rochko
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Wolfram Rösler

Any comment regarding the amount of money you’re getting for what we understood to be a non-profit?

heise.de/news/Mastodon-Gruende…

Mastodon: Gründer macht Chefposten frei und bekommt eine Million Euro

Mastodon soll künftig von einer gemeinnützigen Organisation nach belgischem Recht entwickelt werden. Zudem tritt Eugen Rochko ab, verlässt Mastodon aber nicht.
Martin Holland (heise online)
in reply to Eugen Rochko

mastodon - Link to source

Gaël Duval - /e/OS & Murena

hey Eugen, what you have done with Mastodon is awesome. So thank you a lot for this achievement. Sometimes things are not easy as a founder, especially when it grows fast, but you definitely deserve recognition. I think many of us in the open source, privacy and other communities owe you a big THANK YOU for creating a "social media" that is fully independent from the big techs, and with fair values by design. Good luck with your future projects!

@BjornW@mastodon.social reshared this.

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