Turmoil Strikes 23andMe as Board Members Resign in Dispute with Founder

Internal Conflicts Lead to Resignations

23andMe, a leading genetics and personal genomics company, is facing internal turmoil as two board members have resigned in a dispute with the company's founder and CEO, Anne Wojcicki.

The departures of Susan Desmond-Hellmann, former CEO of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, and Richard Scheller, a neuroscientist at Stanford University, follow a series of disagreements with Wojcicki over the company's strategic direction and corporate governance.

Dispute Over Company Vision

Sources close to the company say that the board members had concerns about Wojcicki's plans to expand 23andMe's business into new areas, such as developing drugs and offering health insurance.

They believed that these ventures were too risky and would distract the company from its core mission of providing genetic testing and analysis.

Wojcicki, on the other hand, argued that these new initiatives were necessary for the company's long-term growth and success.

Corporate Governance Concerns

In addition to disagreements over strategy, the board members also raised concerns about the company's corporate governance practices.

They argued that Wojcicki had too much control over the company, and that she had not been transparent enough in her decision-making.

Wojcicki has defended her leadership, saying that she has always acted in the best interests of the company and its shareholders.

Impact on 23andMe

The resignations of Desmond-Hellmann and Scheller are a significant blow to 23andMe.

They were both highly respected members of the board, and their departures raise questions about the company's future.

It is unclear what the immediate impact of these resignations will be, but it is likely to lead to further instability at the company.

Conclusion

The turmoil at 23andMe is a reminder that even the most successful companies can face internal challenges.

It will be interesting to see how Wojcicki responds to the resignations and whether she can lead the company through this period of uncertainty.