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Tumblr's media evangelist splits

Mark Coatney, a former journalist who helped media companies understand Tumblr, bids farewell to coworkers in a sentimental post.

Jennifer Van Grove Former Senior Writer / News
Jennifer Van Grove covered the social beat for CNET. She loves Boo the dog, CrossFit, and eating vegan. Her jokes are often in poor taste, but her articles are not.
Jennifer Van Grove
3 min read
mark coatney
Mark Coatney/Tumblr

Tumblr Director and Media Evangelist Mark Coatney announced Tuesday in a post on his personal Tumblr that he was departing the Yahoo-owned blogging platform without another gig lined up.

"I'm leaving Tumblr this month," Coatney wrote. "It's a a good time, with Tumblr moving into a new and even better stage with Yahoo, and though I'm happy about the decision and excited about new opportunities, it's still bittersweet."

Former Tumblr President John Maloney recruited Coatney from Newsweek three years ago to help media companies get the most out of the platform. Coatney, who has a background in journalism, managed the magazine's social media presence and used Tumblr to connect with readers, which put him in an excellent position to evangelize the network to other media organizations.

Coatney didn't reveal the specifics around his departure, though he closed his farewell note with a plea for work. "Now, well, I'm a free agent, with a hungry baby to feed, so hit me up if you have any cool projects!"

His departure follows that of Tumblr Creative Director Jacob Bijani, who left at the end of May, less than two weeks after the New York-based startup agreed to sell itself to Yahoo for $1.1 billion.

The full text of Coatney's sentimental exit letter is included below.

One of the perks of being an early employee at any startup is the email address, and for the past three years my nom de Tumblrmail has been mark@tumblr.com. David set the account up when I started--David did a little of everything in those days--and I count myself so fortunate to have been part of that time.

I'm giving up that email soon, along with some great friends and co-workers: I'm leaving Tumblr this month. It's a a good time, with Tumblr moving into a new and even better stage with Yahoo, and though I'm happy about the decision and excited about new opportunities, it's still bittersweet.

Not the least because I'll no longer have the pleasure of working day-to-day with the folks in my Outreach Team: Rachel, who is just the best; she makes every Tumblr author feel like the brightest star on Tumblr. Jen, the Posh Spice of our group, sophisticated and the one person in the world you most want to have pick the restaurant. Nate, who is more of a rock star than the music people he works with. Max and Jeremy, honorary members who are just the nicest, smartest dudes you'll ever meet. Liba, in whom even Heads of State confide, who everyone seeks out for advice. Valentine, who is somehow both unbelievably connected, unbelievably fashionable and unbelievably nice. Annie, whose youth we stole, who will outshine us all.

And I'll no longer have the privilege of working with that original core of great people who make Tumblr such a great product--Peter, the design conscience of Tumblr, and his whole great team; Topher, who is the human embodiment of Tumblr; Megan, who kept us all happy and well-fed; Andrew, who doesn't get the credit he deserves for a whole sleepless year spent as Tumblr's entire Ops department; Thomas, who helped me so much from the Support team. The entire Support team, in fact, is best of breed and entirely underrated. The second wave of engineers--Michael, Mackenzie (he's more than just the man behind TommyPom!,) Dallas, Chris (who's not only just the best Android developer, but also has an ap that will change journalism--hit him up for more!).

As I leave, I'll be joining a list of distinguished Tumblr alums--Marco, Matt, Josh, Marc, Meagan, Jacob, Andrew, Fredrik, Gina, Blake, Evan, Chris, Jessica and Sky just to name a few, as well as John, who brought me to Tumblr in the first place, and to whom I owe so much.

And thanks of course to David, for three of the best years.

Now, well, I'm a free agent, with a hungry baby to feed, so hit me up if you have any cool projects! From now on you can reach me at mark.coatney@gmail.com, and, for always, right here on Tumblr.

[via Valleywag]