Wylie Aronow, a co-founder of Yuga Labs and a notable figure in the NFT space, has recently confirmed that he is not yet prepared to resume his role at the company, despite making significant progress in his health recovery. On December 11, Aronow, also known by his pseudonym Gordon Goner, addressed speculation about his potential return, stating, “I’m not ready to come back to even part-time work. I have to ensure I’m around for a long time, for those who need me.”
Aronow’s health journey has been a challenging one. He took a leave of absence in late January following a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. During this period, he also dispelled rumors alleging that Yuga Labs incorporated neo-Nazi and racist imagery in their work, calling these accusations “lies.”
While he stepped back from day-to-day operations, Aronow continued to contribute to Yuga Labs as a board member and strategic adviser. He has been actively involved in overseeing the company’s operations, particularly its flagship NFT projects like Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) and CryptoPunks. Aronow mentioned that he had identified key issues hindering the company’s progress and felt confident that these were addressed in a recent board meeting.
Expressing his trust in the current leadership, Aronow believes that 2024 will be a pivotal year for Yuga Labs. He left the last board meeting feeling reassured about the company’s direction and the capabilities of its leaders.
Aronow’s decision to step back was not easy. He acknowledged that he had pushed himself beyond his limits, working extensive hours and neglecting the advice of those around him to seek a more balanced approach to work and health.
About a month prior to Aronow’s leave, Yuga Labs had announced the appointment of Daniel Alegre, the former president and COO of Activision Blizzard, as its new CEO. Aronow, along with Greg Solano, Zeshan Ali, and Kerem Atalay, founded Yuga Labs in February 2021. The company has since become renowned for its influential NFT collections, including CryptoPunks, BAYC, MeeBits, and Othersidemeta.
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