It’s hard to believe that four years ago, Chas Edwards and I were sitting in a converted garage in Marin, sketching out a new approach to the media business that, if we were lucky, just might help redefine the world of social media. We dreamt big – what if we could get to ten, even twenty million in revenue!? And we imagined a time when, if the company really made it, we’d figure out a way to do it all over again.

A lot has changed since those early days. FM is far larger than even our biggest dreams, and the company is making the transition from startup to growth company. With that transition comes changes and reflections on what is right for any early founder. I’ve decided to double down in my work at FM, bringing in a new leader and focusing on guiding FM to a powerhouse position in the social media landscape. Chas, one of the finest leaders I’ve ever worked with, is moving on.

Chas’s tireless work ethic and forward-looking philosophy are embedded in FM’s DNA. But at heart, Chas is start-up mountain climber. His skills are unmatched in taking a company from zero to significant revenue. He’s done that here and more. He built an amazing publishing organization from the ground up and helped create some of the most successful marketing campaigns in social media along the way.

If you know Chas, it comes as no surprise that he is itching to take on his next big mountain. I will miss him terribly, but I also knew this day was coming.

With that said, I have supreme confidence in the sales team that Chas helped to build. He has surrounded himself with consummate professionals who know social media and marketing better than anyone. Chas will hand the baton to Pete Spande, who will take over the sales organization as SVP Sales, supported by Josh Mattison, SVP West.

And so – my sincerest thanks to Chas for his amazing work. It was truly an honor to work with you for so many years. Go do it again, we’ll all be rooting for you!