Days after his surprise exit as CEO of Swisscom's blockchain arm, Daniel Haudenschild has a new job in a crypto valley body.
Daniel Haudenschild is the new president of the Crypto Valley Association, or CVA, according to a social media post from his predecessor Oliver Bussmann.
Congratulations and all the best to the new Board of @thecryptovalley Association and new President Daniel Haudenschild & @KamLardi, @KevinLally, Mattia Rattaggi & Martin Berweger! https://t.co/wRZXuDG5DZ pic.twitter.com/vZowtfUcmO
— Oliver Bussmann (@obussmann) 1. Februar 2019
On Wednesday, Haudenschild left his job as CEO of Swisscom's blockchain arm suddenly and with no explanation, as finews.com reported. He is a co-founder of the venture, for which he left consulting firm EY along with several associates 16 months ago.
He takes over the CVA amidst turmoil, as the election on Thursday illustrated. Bussmann, the former technology boss of UBS, said in November he wouldn't stand for reelection amid reported strategic differences. Board members Vasily Suvorov, René Huesler and Nicolas Schobinger followed suit.
Heavy on Functionaries
Elections to replace the four were equally tumultuous, with two new directors immediately stepping down. Melonport tech boss Jenna Zenk retreated in protest (see below) as well as Maria Gomez of blockchain start-up Aragon. Both women had been elected last fall in a bid to widen female representation in Switzerland's crypto scene.
Tonight I resign from my board position of the @thecryptovalley association. Effective immediately. Reasons for that could not be better stated than in this powerful address by @adrian_brink during today’s Annual General Assembly of the CVA. @melonport pic.twitter.com/XQMsexne7C
— Jenna Zenk (@jennaszenk) January 31, 2019
The reasons are linked to the election of Haudenschild as well as Kamales Lardi, Kevin Lally, Mattia Rattaggi and Martin Berweger to the body's board, which gave rise to criticism that the CVA is controlled by consultants, lawyers, and investors – not developers. Lardi is an independent consultant, Rattaggi is regulatory overseer at crypto banking project Seba, and Berweger is a lawyer with securities law firm Wenger & Vieli.
The vote illustrates how the interests in crypto valley are diverging. Originally devised as a network for developers and start-ups, some members have used the organization to goose personal dealings – an accusation frequently levied behind the scenes at Bussmann in particular. The rift grew so bitter that the association hired a law firm to investigate, but the results weren't made public.
