Power Moves: Michael Saylor is leaving MicroStrategy’s CEO post to focus on crypto

Power Moves is a column where we chart the comings and goings of talent across the region. Got a new hire, gig or promotion? Email us: dc@technical.ly.

With a CEO’s shift, MicroStrategy doubles down on Bitcoin

Tysons, Virginia data and business intelligence software company MicroStrategy is solidifying its relationship with cryptocurrency on the back of its CEO’s announced pivot.

Michael Saylor, who’s been CEO and chairman of the company since 1989, declared Wednesday that he will be stepping down from the CEO post and assuming the role of executive chairman, effective Aug. 8. Current president Phong Le will take over as CEO.

According to Saylor, he’s making the move to spend more time focusing on the company’s crypto work. In 2020, the NoVa company purchased $250 million in bitcoin as a capital allocation strategy. As of June, MicroStrategy said it owned 129,699 bitcoins — a $1.988 billion value but a $1.989 cumulative impairment loss.

MicroStrategy did not respond to a request for comment on the news.

“I believe that splitting the roles of chairman and CEO will enable us to better pursue our two corporate strategies of acquiring and holding bitcoin and growing our enterprise analytics software business,” Saylor said in a statement. “As executive chairman, I will be able to focus more on our bitcoin acquisition strategy and related bitcoin advocacy initiatives, while Phong will be empowered as CEO to manage overall corporate operations.”

Kathy Hollinger is the new CEO of the Greater Washington Partnership

Come October, the Greater Washington Partnership will have a new leader. The organization, which describes itself as a civic alliance of CEOs in the Capital Region, appointed Kathy Hollinger as its new CEO.

“This region is near and dear to my heart and I’ve always worked hard to advocate for the private sector to play a leadership role in advancing inclusive growth,” said Hollinger in a statement. “I’m humbled and honored to take on the role of CEO and steer this important organization and our region to be the most inclusive and competitive in the country.”

Hollinger is currently the president and CEO of the Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington, a trade organization she has led since 2012. She was also previously the film commissioner and agency director for DC’s Office of Motion Picture and Television Development. The organization said the city saw a 15% increase in film activity while she helmed the agency, with $38 million in industry direct spending.

NASA says goodbye to Goddard’s leader

After 36 years in the federal scene, NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center’s director Dennis Andrucyk is retiring, according to the Greenbelt, Maryland-based research facility’s announcement in late July. Andrucyk had been with NASA for 22 years.

While at Goddard, Andrucyk severalumber of accomplishments and launches, including the commission and launch of the James Webb Space Telescope. Andrucyk will continue his work as the center’s director while Goddard and NASA complete a nationwide search for a new one. At this time, he does not have a set retirement date.

Andrucyk held various leadership roles since joining NASA in 2000. He was previously the deputy associate administrator for NASA’s Science Mission Directorate, as well as acting chief technologist and deputy associate administrator for its Space Technology Mission Directorate. He also served as chief technologist and several departments’ director during his time at Goddard.

Here’s who else made resume changes in DC:

• GitLab Federal, a developer of a DevOps platform for the public sector, added Janelle Romano and Patty Molthen to its federal advisory board.
• Tysons-based Omnispace made two C-Suite-level changes this week. The company added Brian Pemberton as its chief commercial officer and Jay Yass as chief corporate development and strategy officer.
• Ben Wu, CEO of the Montgomery County Economic Development Corporation, announced his resignation, effective August 15. Bill Tompkins, the agency’s current COO, will take over.
• Rockville, Maryland’s AIM-HI Accelerator Fund, which funds early-stage biotech companies, added Lance Kawaguchi as a strategic advisor.
• Arlington, Virginia cyber company Special Support Technologies appointed retired colonel Keith Couch as its CEO. He most recently was the chief government operations officer for Experfy.
• ATCC, a Manassas, Virginia developer creating biological cell lines, named Rebecca Bradford as VP of government programs for its ATCC Federal Solutions team. Linda Johnson was also named the new VP of licensing and intellectual property management.
• Arlington analytics firm CareJourney, which specializes in healthcare, added Mah-Jabeen Soobader as chief analytics officer. Soobader previously served as the chief analytics officer at Archway Health.
• Aerospace and industrial stabilization device company Vita Inclinata appointed Richard Koucheravy as executive VP of its aerospace division.
• Strategic Consulting Group, an Arlington investment firm, announced Nathalie Cunningham as the new managing director of its client portfolio management team.
• QED Investors, a VC firm in Alexandria, Virginia investing in financial services companies, appointed Courtney Christianson as head of investor relations.
• Mandiant promoted Stacy O’Mara to the role of senior director of government affairs.
• Alongside a name change from Integral Consulting to Integral Federal, the Rockville company appointed Wayne Wilkinson as president and CEO.
• Federal tech company Accenture Federal Services named Kirk McClain, a retired senior CIA officer, as its new chief security officer. In addition, the company added Jarrett Booz to the role of senior manager, as well as program and project management lead.
• Reston-based The Internet Society, a nonprofit working toward an open and secure internet, named John Morris Jr. as its principal of US internet policy and advocacy.
• Ventera, a business and government consulting company in Reston, added Gopal Sharathanchandra as senior VP of financial solutions. He’ll also support the company’s AI and machine learning work.
• Herndon-based Serco, which provides tech and management services to government agencies, named Tom Watson as its new CEO. Watson will take over starting Sept 1, with current CEO Dave Dacquino staying on as chair of the company’s board.