Coralie Mercier, W3C’s Director of Marketing and Communications, announced that Dr. Jeffrey Jaffe has stepped down after 12 years as W3C’s Chief Executive Officer.

W3C refers to the World Wide Web Consortium, founded in 1994, is the most authoritative and influential international neutral technical standards organization in the field of Web technology.

Jaffe holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He also holds a BS in Mathematics and an MS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. As W3C’s CEO since March 2010, he is responsible for W3C’s global operations, defending the interests of W3C stakeholders, and maintaining a culture of collaboration and transparency that continues to make W3C the leading forum for the development and management of Web technologies.

Jaffe executed a three-pronged strategy of engagement, network potential, and membership value to provide W3C with a stronger technical agenda, increased agility, and led the critical transition of W3C from a legal entity. At present, W3C has successfully registered as a public welfare non-profit organization, which will be officially launched in January 2023.Registering as a legal entity means that W3C has a more complete organizational structure, charter, andAchieve clearer reporting, accountability, diversity and strategic direction, and better global alignment.

Following Jaffe’s departure, Ralph Swick has agreed to serve as W3C’s interim CEO until the board appoints the next permanent CEO. Ralph joined W3C in January 1997, working on the Privacy, Semantic Web, and RDF sectors, and has served as W3C’s Chief Operating Officer since 2010 and as interim CEO in June 2009.