Advanced SearchPosted Mon Mar 23, 2009 12:04PM
On 2009-03-23 12:04:03, bitter wrote:
Back in 1994 Bruce and I would jump in his jeep after film studies class at the University of Calgary and head to work at Image Club Graphics. It was a great place to work: we were surrounded by fonts, clipart, photos and everything hi-tech (hi-tech for the time--we were selling CDs). We got to sink our teeth into the industry that really made us excited.
Bruce & I became good friends. We got to confide in each other, learn the industry, and watch each other grow. I was always enamored with him: he was the tattooed, confident rebel who oozed cool--something that still shows in the iStock brand. We were opposites in many ways, which is why I think, even to this day, we work so well together.
I always watched in amazement as Bruce brokered deals for almost anything you could imagine. You had a computer to sell: he always had the buyer. A fridge? No problem. A winnebago? Let him make a call. Should have realized that skill would mean there were great things in store for him.
I would like to be the first to thank Bruce for his leadership, his guidance, and his willingness to go to the mat for things he believes in. It's what makes iStock a great place. He will be missed, but he has worked tirelessly for us, and he's built an organization that will continue to run on his ideas and passion, even if he isn't at its head any longer. Now he deserves the time and space to move on to the next part of his life. We wish him well, and look forward to him coming to many iStockalypses to hang out with all of us.
Speaking of iStockalypses, we'd like to do something special for Bruce. We realize many of you will want to send a farewell message to Bruce. We ask you to do it in this forum, and we'll collect them to add to a commemorative book that will be presented to him at iStock HQ this summer.
Bruce, you changed the world for many of us, and for that we'll be forever in your debt. Now go get 'em tiger.
It's been more than nine years since we started iStockphoto. From the beginning, this crazy little experiment has shown the world what happens when people assemble to organize their creativity and business acumen. Together, we changed the way a whole industry works. It's astonishing how far we've all come and how successful this concept has been. Our offices and staff – here in Calgary, Germany, remote teams (inspectors) and at Getty Images around the world – have all worked incredibly hard to become what we are. It's a strong team and we're functioning with fantastic precision. Everyone is prepared for this day.
Back when our staff was still just a few dozen people, when we were having a going away party for a co-worker, people were choked. When you're that tight a group, the prospect of change seems really dramatic. I remember telling everybody "Hey, iStock is bigger than any one of us. People come and go, things change, but iStock was built to last. H*ck, someday even I'll leave."
This is my last communication as CEO of iStockphoto and SVP Consumer at Getty Images. It's been a difficult decision, but it’s the right moment to move on. I need more time with my family, and time to figure out what I'm going to do next. Anybody who knows me, knows I'm a bit of a workaholic. So I'm finally going to make some time for myself and the people in my life.
The day I told you all that we had sold to Getty Images, I assured you we would keep all that was great about iStock and be the same, only better. Thanks to the support of Jonathan Klein and other great people at Getty Images, we have expanded into numerous countries and languages far faster than we ever could have alone. I know that momentum will continue, with many new developments in store in the coming months. I have also learned an enormous amount from my colleagues at Getty Images and will miss them a great deal as I will miss working with all of you.?
Don't think for a minute that I'm going away, though. I'm still a photographer after all, and I'll finally have time to take pictures now. I just won't have one of those Admin badges and hammer anymore. Please don't Wiki my keywords unless I really deserve it.
I am deeply honoured to have led this community and worked with all of you. I believe we made the world a more beautiful place. It's been you who has made all the hard work over the years so worth it.
Back when our staff was still just a few dozen people, when we were having a going away party for a co-worker, people were choked. When you're that tight a group, the prospect of change seems really dramatic. I remember telling everybody "Hey, iStock is bigger than any one of us. People come and go, things change, but iStock was built to last. H*ck, someday even I'll leave."
This is my last communication as CEO of iStockphoto and SVP Consumer at Getty Images. It's been a difficult decision, but it’s the right moment to move on. I need more time with my family, and time to figure out what I'm going to do next. Anybody who knows me, knows I'm a bit of a workaholic. So I'm finally going to make some time for myself and the people in my life.
The day I told you all that we had sold to Getty Images, I assured you we would keep all that was great about iStock and be the same, only better. Thanks to the support of Jonathan Klein and other great people at Getty Images, we have expanded into numerous countries and languages far faster than we ever could have alone. I know that momentum will continue, with many new developments in store in the coming months. I have also learned an enormous amount from my colleagues at Getty Images and will miss them a great deal as I will miss working with all of you.?
Don't think for a minute that I'm going away, though. I'm still a photographer after all, and I'll finally have time to take pictures now. I just won't have one of those Admin badges and hammer anymore. Please don't Wiki my keywords unless I really deserve it.
I am deeply honoured to have led this community and worked with all of you. I believe we made the world a more beautiful place. It's been you who has made all the hard work over the years so worth it.
Back in 1994 Bruce and I would jump in his jeep after film studies class at the University of Calgary and head to work at Image Club Graphics. It was a great place to work: we were surrounded by fonts, clipart, photos and everything hi-tech (hi-tech for the time--we were selling CDs). We got to sink our teeth into the industry that really made us excited.
Bruce & I became good friends. We got to confide in each other, learn the industry, and watch each other grow. I was always enamored with him: he was the tattooed, confident rebel who oozed cool--something that still shows in the iStock brand. We were opposites in many ways, which is why I think, even to this day, we work so well together.
I always watched in amazement as Bruce brokered deals for almost anything you could imagine. You had a computer to sell: he always had the buyer. A fridge? No problem. A winnebago? Let him make a call. Should have realized that skill would mean there were great things in store for him.
I would like to be the first to thank Bruce for his leadership, his guidance, and his willingness to go to the mat for things he believes in. It's what makes iStock a great place. He will be missed, but he has worked tirelessly for us, and he's built an organization that will continue to run on his ideas and passion, even if he isn't at its head any longer. Now he deserves the time and space to move on to the next part of his life. We wish him well, and look forward to him coming to many iStockalypses to hang out with all of us.
Speaking of iStockalypses, we'd like to do something special for Bruce. We realize many of you will want to send a farewell message to Bruce. We ask you to do it in this forum, and we'll collect them to add to a commemorative book that will be presented to him at iStock HQ this summer.
Bruce, you changed the world for many of us, and for that we'll be forever in your debt. Now go get 'em tiger.
