Several Execs Abandon the Essential Phone Before Launch

[Qub3d]

It looks like there may be some trouble behind the scenes at Essential. We've already seen the release date delayed nearly 60 days (as of July 28) from the "official release" promised May 30. Now, it looks like some folks within the company are leaving for greener pastures:

 

http://www.androidauthority.com/essential-executives-departing-company-790493/

Quote

In the first half of this month, Essential lost two of its high-ranked employees — VP of marketing Brian Wallace and head of communication Andy Fouché. Neither of them were strangers to vaporware, as they were part of the controversial AR startup Magic Leap before joining Rubin’s Essential...

 

...Today, it was revealed that another top talent has left Rubin’s company. Liron Damir, former head of UX at Essential, has taken a new role at Google. Oddly enough, his new position is almost the same of that he held at Rubin’s startup — he’ll be the head of UX for Google Home.

 

With Essential losing three of its top executives in just a month, the future isn’t looking so bright for Rubin’s dream project. Usually, such mass departures of high-ranked employees signify turmoil in the company.

 

http://pocketnow.com/2017/07/28/key-essential-executive-departure-google-home-hiring

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For his part, Big G’s newly appointed Google Home Head of UX, Liron Damir, expressed his excitement and pride at joining the tech giant to “lead the design of Google Home products.” Not a single word about his Essential exit in a rather terse Linkedin post earlier this week, despite the separation taking place very recently. Ouch!

 

 

Its a shame to watch this happen. I have big hopes for the Essential Phone, and I hope this is just a result of startup growing pains; but it looks like the "rats fleeing a sinking ship" metaphor is more likely (apologies to the executives for being compared to rats; and the rats for being compared to executives).

Edited July 28, 2017 by Qub3d
clarification added to first quote

[potoooooooo]

Looks more like they got tired of startup pay, and having done their job, they moved on. They  were probably getting paid in stocks and left now that the phone is ready for release or something to that affect.

[ashypanda]

lets just hope those who've reserved it, put it on a credit card, as they'd have a chance of seeing their money again.

[Qub3d]

5 hours ago, ashypanda said:

lets just hope those who've reserved it, put it on a credit card, as they'd have a chance of seeing their money again.

I don't doubt we will eventually see it, I just doubt it will be sold in any significant amount beyond preorders, and I doubt the phone will have a company to support it...

[Doobeedoo]

Hmm, well phone looks very nice and really wish to see it.