Today, we offer a bittersweet announcement to our extended network of partners, supporters, and allies: Meedan’s CEO and founder, Ed Bice, will be retiring from his position this November.

In 2003, before the rise of most major social media platforms that we know today, Ed planted the seeds for what would become Meedan: an idea to bring people together and design tools that increase understanding and communication across languages and borders. By 2006 we became an incorporated non-profit.

Since that time, we have seen entire histories of the social internet unfold, through revolutions, wars, elections, and pandemics. We built a cross-lingual social network long before Facebook or Twitter even had “translate” buttons. We began working on tools for verification, sourcing, and media provenance in 2011 and on hypothetical pandemic misinformation frameworks in 2018. The ideas and passions of Ed’s original vision were prescient to say the least.

In a LinkedIn post announcing this upcoming transition, Ed wrote: 

We have not yet succeeded in the larger mission of fixing the internet, but we’ve improved parts of it, and the world, during critical moments… We have found our true success, though, in the mission of building an organization premised on decency, kindness, and creativity.

All this, and the many accolades that Meedan has garnered, from the Online News Association, Global Fact, the Skoll Foundation, and the many longstanding partners and users of our programs and tools— are a testament to the strength and ingenuity of our team under Ed’s leadership over the past 20 years. Although Ed will remain on our board, he will step down from his CEO role on November 11. Ed has been working with Meedan’s board and leadership team on succession planning for much of the year and we have an exciting announcement on that front coming later this month. 

Ed works like an entrepreneur, thinks like a nerd, and writes like a philosopher, but underneath all of that lies his deep and sincere care for everyone around him. While we will miss his leadership and that signature blend of humor and wisdom found in his weekly team notes, we know Ed will continue to shine his one-of-a-kind light on many communities and friends in the years ahead. We’ll close this post with a few messages from our team:

| Your impact will remain prominent, and we hope the future rewards you as much as you’ve given.

‍Você encerra este ciclo com chave de ouro, deixando um legado que continuará inspirando todos nós.

| You end this cycle with a flourish, leaving a legacy that will continue to inspire us all.

Asante sana Ed! Kila la heri, amani na upendo.

| Thank you very much Ed! All the best, peace and love.

Muchas gracias por tu compromiso, tu energía y por inspirarnos todos los días. Te deseamos lo mejor siempre.

| Many thanks for your commitment, your energy, and for inspiring us every day. We wish you the best, always.

दिल से शुक्रिया, एड! हिंदी में अलविदा तो होता ही नहीं, बस यह कहेंगे कि आगे की हर मंज़िल आपको ढेर सारी खुशियाँ और कामयाबी दे। आपके साथ हम सबकी सीखने-सिखाने वाली ये दोस्ती हमेशा यूँ ही चलती रहे, और हर बार इसमें कुछ नया जोड़ते रहें।

| Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Ed! There is no goodbye in Hindi, I would just like to say that may every destination ahead give you lots of happiness and success. May this friendship of learning and teaching between us and you continue like this forever, and keep adding something new to it every time.

Check out our timeline of Meedan’s work since 2003.