Urban Airship CEO takes leave amid sexual assault probe
Scott Kveton, co-founder of the push notification startup, tells employees that he had been thinking about stepping aside for a while but the decision was accelerated by a story about his "personal situation."
Scott Kveton, the chief executive officer of Urban Airship, has taken an "extended leave of absence" from the push notification company he co-founded in the wake of sexual assault allegations.
In a memo sent to employees Tuesday, which Urban Airship posted to its website, Kveton wrote that he had been considering such a move for a while and that the company had already hired an executive search firm to find a replacement. Kveton, who said his decision was accelerated by a story about his "personal situation," departs amid reports that a former girlfriend has accused Kveton of sexual assault.
"When the story about my personal situation was published last Wednesday, it became clear that my transition timing needed to accelerate," Kveton wrote. "So effective immediately, I am going on an extended leave of absence to focus on resolving this situation. I care way too much about Urban Airship to try to resolve this issue and simultaneously lead the company. You deserve someone who has complete focus on the business without distraction."
CFO Mike Templeton has been named interim CEO, Kveton wrote in his note.
The Portland Oregonian reported last week that police were investigating allegations that Kveton sexually assaulted a former girlfriend a few years ago. Kveton's accuser lodged allegations with three Oregon police departments but no charges have been filed against Kveton, the Oregonian reported. Portland police continue to investigate accusations made in 2012 and 2013, the newspaper reported.
CNET has contacted Urban Airship for more information about the departure and will update this report when we learn more.
Founded in 2009, the Portland, Ore.-based startup provides websites and app developers with tools to send push notifications to mobile devices about breaking news, sports scores, and other time-sensitive information. Among its customers are news organizations, ABC News, ESPN, Fox, and CBS Interactive, the publisher of CNET News.