Who'll Catch Residents' Flack Now That Zee Linden's Gone?

It's official: declaring victory and withdrawing, Linden Lab's Chief Financial Officer John Zdanowski (known as Zee Linden in-world) has announced his departure from the company, in search of "the next business adventure". (Curiously, the image accompanying this announcement is an avatar perched on the edge of a cliff.) Zee joined the Lindens shortly after I departed in 2006, and I haven't had much interaction with him since; however, I do think it's fair to credit him with maximizing the profit of Lindens' virtual land sales, to a point where it's drawing revenue at a run rate likely in excess of $100 million/yearly.  In any case, what's always impressed me is his ability, even in the face of extreme rancor, to directly address Resident anger head on with a minimum of corporate passive voice locution. During last year's Openspaces rebellion, for example, he openly said, "[Our] credibility took a hit because of the way we launched Openspaces then had to change it." I think that earnestness helped quell Resident anger to a manageable degree. Question is, now that he's gone, which Linden will come forward to endure your wrath, when the next controversy inevitably provokes it?

Comments

[Ciaran Laval]

I was highly critical of some of his policies, opensapces in particular, but the way he engaaged with residents was a breath of fresh air. No other Linden did that, not even Robin.

I'll miss him, I know others won't but I very much appreciated his willingness to engage with residents.

[radar]

Considering it's a dragon avatar, and can presumably fly, I wouldn't worry about the cliff too much.

[Arwyn Quandry]

I'm thinking that M will be the one incurring plenty of wrath now. A lot of big (and often disliked) changes have come since he has taken office. Without Zee there to channel the anger, there's a good chance that rage will be directed his way.