Ciaran Laval

Exclusively revealed on Reuters Philip Rosedale is to step down as Linden Lab CEO. The enigmatic Mr Rosedale is moving sideways into a full time role at the company working on product development and strategy. Mitch Kapor is also moving sideways as Philip Rosedale is replacing him in some capacity, although Mitch Kapor will remain on the board.

On the official forums Robin Linden shocked everyone when she said “This decision doesn’t signal any changes other than Philip’s choice to focus on strategy and product while someone he chooses as his partner manages the operations and organizational growth.”

It wasn’t the statement that shocked everyone, it was Robin actually commenting, several regular participants on the forums were being told to take a sweet cup of tea with extra sugar and advised to take it easy for the rest of the evening.

On the blog Philip explains the change of job and attracts the masses to a blog in a way that no other Linden can manage.

As the Reuters report states, this isn’t unusual for startups. Indeed many are surprised that this hasn’t happened earlier. The question of course is where does it go from here? Is it down to the lake I fear … ohh hold on 80’s flashback moment, where was I?

Oh yes, what does the future hold?

Crystal balls are dangerous things, I dropped one on my toe once after a drunken party in a student house and was given the frowning of a lifetime by a girl in a pink tutu. So we’ll dispense with such objects of evil and focus on the path that is already being laid out.

Things have been changing at LL recently. The ugly departure of Cory complete with leaked emails signified that all wasn’t well.

The turn of the year saw a more professional outlook, with Jack Linden changing from some time commentator on land pricing to someone whom I imagined wearing a suit and a pair of bracers ala Wall Street. Gone was the laid back we’re all your friends approach and Jack was back, meaning business.

Open spaces were revitalised, Linden department of public works was announced, inventory was lost, rolling restarts were regular and 503 errors became the norm.

Meanwhile the world of banking was ripped apart with the ban on banks as announced by Ken D Linden. The sky didn’t fall, the seas didn’t part, the dead didn’t appear to many despite the claims of many. LL meant business, these guys were mean and had a cold icy stare designed to put the fear of God into the innocent.

Meanwhile Uncle Phil sat back watching the new hungry team going to work, probably after they’d chased chickens round the yard, drank eggs and played the Eye of the tiger tune in the background. Well Blizzard had already recruited Mr T to their cause.

Meanwhile somewhere else in San Francisco Ebay were recruiting a new CEO … and let this be a warning to everyone who thinks this can only be good news. Ebay are making a right pig’s ear of it. Their decision for sellers not to be able to leave negative feedback is flawed. Their decision to relegate in the listings those sellers whose DSR ratings aren’t above a certain level is bordering on taking money under false pretences. This will cause far more harm than good. So if anyone from LL goes for a coffee with anyone from Ebay, look, listen and learn how not to change a CEO and policies.

My hope is for a CEO with customer service skills. One of the biggest criticisms of Second Life is in terms of performance. Whereas the techies shrug their shoulders and marvel at the progress, educators, corporations and consumers sigh. When you’re out of beta, you need to start delivering the goodies. I hope the future’s so bright that I’ve gotta wear shades.

Filling Uncle Phil’s boots won’t be easy, he has style, he has grace, he makes grown men go weak at the knees and ladies faint. He has an enigmatic aura and he has an avatar with a droopy moustache that so fundamentally screams Philip is here. Filling those boots won’t be easy, and changes will come, people will post that they wish the good old days were back, that this wouldn’t have happened with Uncle Phil around to reassure everyone. Change can be challenging but in Phil we trust.

Move ‘em on head’ em up, head ‘em up move’ em up, move ‘em on head’ em up, Rawhide!