Tumblr’s Maloney Steps Down from Day-to-Day Operations

John Maloney, president of Tumblr, is no longer running the day-to-day operations of the company, he announced in a post on Tumblr.

The post is entitled “Tempus fugit,” which mean “time flees” in Latin.

“I told the team and board this week that it’s time for me to transition away from running day-to-day operations,” Maloney writes. “It’s the right time for me and a good time for Tumblr. We’re in great hands with David [Karp, Tumblr's founder] and the excellent leadership team we’ve built. The company is filled with amazing people.”

It isn’t clear what prompted the move or what it means for the 5-year-old company, which operates a popular blogging platform.

Tumblr has raised more than $125 million in venture capital from Greylock Partners, Insight Venture Partners, Menlo Ventures, Sequoia Capital, Spark Capital and Union Square Ventures, according to Thomson Reuters (publisher of peHUB).

Here is the full text of Maloney’s post:

Tempus fugit

I’ll start by saying it has been an absolute joy and privilege to be the President of Tumblr these past four years

To work alongside these special people, with our intense focus on product, positivity, fun and whimsy — from our small team came what is now a community of over 50 million

It’s been a seminal experience, and I’m proud of the work

I told the team and board this week that it’s time for me to transition away from running day-to-day operations. It’s the right time for me and a good time for Tumblr. We’re in great hands with David and the excellent leadership team we’ve built. The company is filled with amazing people

That said, I’m not going very far. The transition from running ops is effective immediately, but I’m sticking close w/ David, the team and company. There’s more work to do and I want to help see it thru

I feel really fortunate that my life is filled with good things – my family, dear friends, and an entrepreneurial career that now includes the magical Tumblr years

I’m going to spend more time with my family, more time supporting startups/founders, paying some things forward, and learn a bunch of new things

Regarding my friend David, who I just worked with for basically eight years over two startups. First at mine, then at his. He’s an amazing person and talent, I learned a ton from David

The team will ship some awesome new stuff next week and I’ll be there for it

Thanks everyone
John