Embattled WeWork CEO Neumann stepping down

NEW YORK, USA – WeWork co-founder Adam Neumann said Tuesday, September 24, he is stepping down as chief executive officer (CEO) of the office sharing startup, calling the increased scrutiny he faced in recent weeks “a significant distraction.”

Neumann’s announcement, which confirmed earlier Agence France-Presse reporting, comes as the startup faces questions over its governance and profit outlook that have clouded its prospects for going public.

Prior to his announcement, Neumann had faced pressure from board members tied to SoftBank, a major investor, according to people with knowledge of the matter.

Neumann also met Sunday, September 22, with Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan Chase, the lead underwriter for the company’s initial public offering (IPO), and the encounter weighed on Neumann’s decision to step down, the sources said.

The outgoing CEO has come under scrutiny for perceived self-dealing as head of the fast-growing enterprise. 

In its prospectus to go public, WeWork disclosed that it had leased from entities in which Neumann “has or has had a significant ownership interest.”

In a subsequent securities filing earlier this month, parent The We Company said that it was cutting the voting power in Neumann’s “super shares” and that Neumann would give the company any profits he reaps on private transactions made with the startup.

However, those moves proved insufficient to shift the negative momentum surrounding the offering since it was formally initiated in August.

Valuation slashed

The New York-based startup that launched in 2010 has touted itself as revolutionizing commercial real estate by offering shared, flexible workspace arrangements, and has operations in 111 cities in 29 countries.

However, the company, which lost $1.9 billion last year, has faced skepticism over its ability to make money, especially if the global economy slows significantly.

Architects of the offering had scaled back the valuation target for the company from $47 billion to under $20 billion as they pushed back the timeframe.

The IPO is now unlikely to happen before the end of the year, according to a source, adding that the earliest period would be 2020.

Neumann will remain as chairman of the company he started in 2010 and also continues to control a majority of voting shares.

“As co-founder of WeWork, I am so proud of this team and the incredible company,” Neumann said.

“While our business has never been stronger, in recent weeks, the scrutiny directed toward me has become a significant distraction, and I have decided that it is in the best interest of the company to step down as chief executive.”

The company named as co-CEOs chief financial officer Artie Minson and former vice chairman Sebastian Gunningham.

“We would like to thank Adam for his vision and his passion in building WeWork over the past 9 years,” Minson and Gunningham said in a statement.

“Our core business is strong and we will be taking clear actions to balance WeWork’s high growth, profitability, and unique member experience, while also evaluating the optimal timing for an IPO.” – Rappler.com