Strategy

Groupon's CEO and COO just stepped down, joining a slew of executive departures in 2020, including Bill Gates, who is leaving the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway

Joey Hadden, Debanjali Bose, and Laura Casado

2020-03-26T14:57:00Z

Read in app

Bob Iger and Keith Block are just two of several notable CEO departures in 2020. VCG/Getty Images

On March 25, 2020, both the CEO and COO of Groupon Inc. stepped down effective immediately.
On March 20, 2020, the CEO of tobacco company Altria, Howard Willard, revealed that he had tested positive for the coronavirus, and will be taking a medical leave of absence until further notice.
On March 13, Bill Gates had announced he would be stepping down from the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway.
Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, and Keith Block, co-CEO of Salesforce, stepped down from their roles on February 25.
Several notable executives have stepped down or announced that they're stepping down in 2020. In fact, January 2020 set a record for the most CEO departures in the US in one month — 219 in all.
Here are all the most notable executive departures of 2020 so far.
Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Groupon's CEO, Rich Williams, and COO, Steve Krenzer, are stepping down from those roles while remaining with the company. North America President Aaron Cooper was named interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent hire.

People enter and leave Groupon Inc corporate office and headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, November 4, 2011. REUTERS/Frank Polich — People enter and leave Groupon's headquarters in Chicago Thomson Reuters

Source: Groupon

Howard Willard, the CEO of Altria Group, one of the world's largest producers of tobacco products, tested positive for the coronavirus and was taking a temporary medical leave of absence as of March 20.

Source: Reuters

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announced his decision to step down from the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway in a LinkedIn post on March 13, to focus more on philanthropic ventures. Gates hasn't worked full-time at Microsoft since 2008.

Source: Business Insider, LinkedIn

Mandy Ginsberg, the CEO of the company that oversees Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid, and Match, announced on January 28 that she's stepping down after 14 years, citing personal reasons.

Source: Business Insider

Disney said on January 31 that Hulu CEO Randy Freer would be departing, with no direct replacement and company leaders reporting to Disney's Kevin Mayer. In late February, Hulu's Chief Marketing Officer Kelly Campbell was promoted to president of Hulu.

Source: Business Insider

Terry Booth, the CEO of Aurora Cannabis, announced he was stepping down and retiring on February 6. Several struggling Canadian cannabis companies have shifted leadership roles lately — this is just the latest.

Source: Business Insider

Tidjane Thiam, CEO of Credit Suisse, resigned on February 6 after the company got caught stalking a former employee through a private investigator.

Source: Business Insider

Les Wexner, CEO of L Brands, a retail company that includes Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, stepped down on February 20 after almost 60 years. He was the longest-tenured CEO of any Fortune 500 company at the time.

Source: Business Insider

Tyler Haney, founder and CEO of the clothing brand Outdoor Voices, stepped down on February 21, following a tough year. The clothing brand reportedly lost around $2 million a month in 2019. Haney left the company altogether several days later.

Photo by Rick Kern/Getty Images for Inc

Source: Business Insider, Business Insider

Fastly CEO Artur Bergman said on February 22 he would leave the position, less than a year after the internet infrastructure company went public. He said it was because he's a stronger developer than he is a company leader.

Source: Business Insider

Keith Block, co-CEO of Salesforce, left the position on February 25, which surprised industry watchers, who thought Block might eventually take over from founder Marc Benioff as sole CEO.

Source: Business Insider

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, stepped down on February 25. He had held the role since 2005 and renewed his contract in 2017.

Source: Business Insider

Harley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich resigned on February 28 following years of decreasing demand for motorcycles.

Source: Harley-Davidson, Forbes

Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, is departing in April after eight years of leading the company through a difficult transition period.

Source: Business Insider

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner is stepping down in June after 11 years of running the company.

Source: Business Insider

Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga is set to step down in early 2021 after more than a decade running the company.

Source: Business Insider

CEO] Disney Salesforce

Groupon's CEO and COO just stepped down, joining a slew of executive departures in 2020, including Bill Gates, who is leaving the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway

Groupon's CEO, Rich Williams, and COO, Steve Krenzer, are stepping down from those roles while remaining with the company. North America President Aaron Cooper was named interim CEO while the company searches for a permanent hire.

Howard Willard, the CEO of Altria Group, one of the world's largest producers of tobacco products, tested positive for the coronavirus and was taking a temporary medical leave of absence as of March 20.

Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates announced his decision to step down from the boards of Microsoft and Berkshire Hathaway in a LinkedIn post on March 13, to focus more on philanthropic ventures. Gates hasn't worked full-time at Microsoft since 2008.

Mandy Ginsberg, the CEO of the company that oversees Tinder, Hinge, OKCupid, and Match, announced on January 28 that she's stepping down after 14 years, citing personal reasons.

Disney said on January 31 that Hulu CEO Randy Freer would be departing, with no direct replacement and company leaders reporting to Disney's Kevin Mayer. In late February, Hulu's Chief Marketing Officer Kelly Campbell was promoted to president of Hulu.

Adam Bierman, CEO, and co-founder of the cannabis company MedMen, stepped down on February 1, after a steep decline in its share price over the last year. It also laid off 40% of its corporate workforce at the end of 2019.

Terry Booth, the CEO of Aurora Cannabis, announced he was stepping down and retiring on February 6. Several struggling Canadian cannabis companies have shifted leadership roles lately — this is just the latest.

Tidjane Thiam, CEO of Credit Suisse, resigned on February 6 after the company got caught stalking a former employee through a private investigator.

Les Wexner, CEO of L Brands, a retail company that includes Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works, stepped down on February 20 after almost 60 years. He was the longest-tenured CEO of any Fortune 500 company at the time.

Tyler Haney, founder and CEO of the clothing brand Outdoor Voices, stepped down on February 21, following a tough year. The clothing brand reportedly lost around $2 million a month in 2019. Haney left the company altogether several days later.

Fastly CEO Artur Bergman said on February 22 he would leave the position, less than a year after the internet infrastructure company went public. He said it was because he's a stronger developer than he is a company leader.

Keith Block, co-CEO of Salesforce, left the position on February 25, which surprised industry watchers, who thought Block might eventually take over from founder Marc Benioff as sole CEO.

Bob Iger, CEO of Disney, stepped down on February 25. He had held the role since 2005 and renewed his contract in 2017.

Harley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich resigned on February 28 following years of decreasing demand for motorcycles.

Ginni Rometty, CEO of IBM, is departing in April after eight years of leading the company through a difficult transition period.

Although it was announced in 2019, T-Mobile's CEO John Legere is scheduled to step down in May 2020. During his 7-year run, T-Mobile's share price increased from $12 to nearly $80.

LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner is stepping down in June after 11 years of running the company.

Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga is set to step down in early 2021 after more than a decade running the company.