• Home
  • News
  • Fortune 500
  • Tech
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechWikipedia

Wikipedia Members Vote Against New Board Member

By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Claire Groden
Claire Groden
Down Arrow Button Icon
January 26, 2016, 10:15 AM ET
A journalist reads information on the on
A journalist reads information on the online encyclopedia Wikipedia on Jauary 17, 2012 in Washington, DC. Free online knowledge site Wikipedia will shut down for 24 hours beginning at midnight eastern standard time in protest at draft anti-online piracy legislation before the US Congress, founder Jimmy Wales said Monday on Twitter. AFP PHOTO/Karen BLEIER (Photo credit should read KAREN BLEIER/AFP/Getty Images)Photograph by Karen Bleier—AFP/Getty Images

There’s a revolt brewing among the people behind Wikipedia.

Over 200 Wikipedia editors have signed a vote of no confidence against Arnnon Geshuri, a new member of the board of the Wikimedia Foundation. Fewer than 20 community members have registered opposition to the vote.

Members are calling for his termination after discovering that Geshuri had been involved in the collusion between Apple, Google, and other tech companies that resulted in a $415 million class action lawsuit. According to a Department of Justice investigation, the companies had illegally agreed to not poach each others’ employees, depressing workers’ salaries and career mobility. Released e-mails from the case show Geshuri playing a key role in the collusion, at one point e-mailing Google’s executive chairman Eric Schmidt that a Google recruiter who had contacted an Apple employee would be “terminated within the hour.”

Members of the Wikipedia community, including at least one former board member, questioned Geshuri’s integrity, according to Wikipedia’s insider newspaper The Signpost. The vote of no confidence is not binding for the board.

The Wikimedia board—which governs Wikipedia and other projects—unanimously voted to approve Geshuri’s appointment on Jan. 6, citing his decades of human resources experience at Tesla and Google.

Fortune has reached out to the Wikimedia Foundation and will update this post with any comment.

About the Author
By Claire Groden
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.