In a recent announcement, the Starknet Foundation (SNF) has disclosed a significant change in its leadership. Diego Olivia, the outgoing CEO, has been succeeded by James Strudwick, who steps in as the new Executive Director.
Leadership Transition and Accomplishments
The SNF praised Olivia for his exceptional leadership, dedication to ethical practices, and clear vision that propelled the foundation forward. Under Olivia’s guidance, the SNF expanded from a modest team of two part-time employees to a robust group of thirty full-time professionals. His tenure saw the successful launch of notable projects such as the Seed Grants and DeFi Spring, along with partnerships with over 100 organizations aimed at supporting developers.
Olivia was appointed as the CEO of the foundation in 2023 due to his commendable character and vast entrepreneurial experience. His leadership laid the foundation for various ecosystem development projects, including the Catalyst and Propulsion programs. Additionally, the foundation entered into numerous collaborations with infrastructure teams to scale initiatives like Hacker House and Basecamp.
Despite his resignation, Olivia has remained with the SNF to facilitate a smooth transition, ensuring the continuity of ongoing activities.
James Strudwick’s Vision for the Future
James Strudwick, who joined SNF in January 2024, is set to lead the foundation into its next chapter. Strudwick, mentored by Olivia, has already demonstrated substantial expertise in Web3 technology, blockchain, and DeFi projects. His familiarity with the ecosystem and proven leadership skills make him a fitting successor.
The foundation’s confidence in Strudwick is bolstered by recent achievements, such as a 7x growth in Starknet’s Total Value Locked (TVL) since early 2024. Starknet’s flagship decentralized exchange, Ekubo Protocol, has also shown impressive performance, with $10 million in fully diluted valuation (FDV) and $56 million in TVL.
Statements from Leadership
Eli Ben-Sasson, CEO and co-founder of StarkWare Ltd., expressed gratitude towards Olivia for his integrity and efforts in jump-starting the foundation. He also welcomed Strudwick as the new Executive Director, expressing optimism about the leadership transition.
With the leadership baton now passed to Strudwick, the Starknet Foundation aims to continue its growth trajectory and further its mission in the blockchain and DeFi space.
