Reddit announced the resignation of CEO Yishan Wong Thursday after the company board rejected his plan for a new office.
Yishan left the website last week according to a blog post by Sam Altman, president of Y Combinator — the first company to invest in Reddit. Altman wrote Thursday that Wong left over a dispute about the location and cost of a new office lease.
“To be clear, though, we didn’t ask or suggest that he resign — he decided to when we didn’t approve the new office plan,” Altman wrote. “We wish him the best and we’re thankful for the work he’s done to grow reddit more than 5x.”
After securing $50 million in September during a new round of investing, Wong said on Twitter in October that Reddit management was forcing employees to relocate to San Francisco or leave the company.
Wong caused a stir among employees later that month, according to the New York Times, after he publicly posted the reason an employee was fired while the ex-employee answered questions during an AMA. (RELATED: Reddit CEO Tells Ex-Employee Why He Was Fired During His Own AMA)
Strategic partnerships head Ellen Pao will fill in as interim CEO, while Reddit cofounder Alexis Ohanian will return to a full-time executive chairman position.