The GNOME Foundation is once again hunting for a new boss after executive director Steven Deobald departed less than four months into the role, a move the board described as mutual.

GNOME Foundation's new executive director is Canadian, a techie, and a GNOME user [1]READ MORE

Deobald was handed the reins in May from interim director Richard Littauer, who had been in place for nearly a year but didn't want the post permanently because he'd taken on the role during a difficult time.

Allan Day, chair and now president of the GNOME Foundation, listed Deobald's achievements during his relatively short tenure, including internal policy and documentation work, recruiting a treasurer and vice-treasurer, the creation of a new donations platform, and "energetic engagement with the GNOME community."

"Despite these many positive achievements, Steven and the board have come to the conclusion that Steven is not the right fit for the Executive Director role at this time. We are therefore bidding Steven a fond farewell," he [2]wrote in the blog .

"I know that some members of the GNOME community will be disappointed by this decision. I can assure everyone that it wasn't one that we took lightly, and had to consider from different perspectives," added Day, who is also a principal UX designer at Red Hat.

[3]

The intent is for a "community-based executive" to take over, and the board is "already working to fill in the gaps left by his departure." The Foundation won't be affected by the management change, Day assured. He signed off without any hint of what happened to make those revolving doors swing again so soon.

[4]

[5]

The Register asked Day what caused the decision but he has yet to respond.

Littauer exited the interim director post with a blog post titled " [6]So long, and thanks for the fish ," a phrase that needs no explanation to many in The Reg readership. Deobald signalled his exit with " [7]So short, and thanks for all the flinch ."

[8]Ubuntu 25.10 and Fedora 43 to drop X11 in GNOME editions

[9]GNOME Foundation's new executive director is Canadian, a techie, and a GNOME user

[10]GNOME head honcho Holly Million steps down

[11]GNOME Foundation's new executive director sparks witch hunt

Deobald described it as an "interesting four months" with little hint of bitterness or regret, save to say he was disappointed not to work more with Day, who takes control during the search for a successor.

"In a few short months I've found it remarkable how hardworking the entire GNOME community is. You folks accomplish so much in such short spans of time, with limited resources. But even more surprising to me was just how warm and welcoming all the contributors are. A lot of folks have built a real home here: not just a professional network, but an international village."

[12]

He thanked many people he worked with over the months and pitched for the next potential job. "If you like the work I've done at the Foundation, you can also speak to me about other roles in the space. I would love to continue working within the wider Free Software ecosystem and especially on the Linux desktop."

Deobald said he'd be "fully off-grid for two weeks mid-September so I can meditate a 10-Day 'self course'… But I'm back to the real world after that."

It's proving to be a difficult seat to fill at the top of the GNOME Foundation. Holly Million, who practiced an unusual religion, left the position in [13]July 2024 after [14]nine months , having faced personal attacks from some parts of the FOSS community. ®

Get our [15]Tech Resources



[1] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/08/new_gnome_director/

[2] https://blogs.gnome.org/aday/2025/08/29/thanks-and-farewell-to-steven-deobald/

[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aLgRtd1TEqysJS9x_eurrAAAAIg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0

[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aLgRtd1TEqysJS9x_eurrAAAAIg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aLgRtd1TEqysJS9x_eurrAAAAIg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[6] https://blogs.gnome.org/richardlitt/2025/05/02/so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-fish/

[7] https://blogs.gnome.org/steven/2025/08/29/so-short-and-thanks-for-all-the-flinch/

[8] https://www.theregister.com/2025/06/12/ubuntu_2510_to_drop_x11/

[9] https://www.theregister.com/2025/05/08/new_gnome_director/

[10] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/17/gnome_boss_steps_down/

[11] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/24/holly_million_gnome/

[12] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_software/oses&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aLgRtd1TEqysJS9x_eurrAAAAIg&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0

[13] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/17/gnome_boss_steps_down/

[14] https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/24/holly_million_gnome/

[15] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/