- After almost 10 years in the position
- Praise and thanks for Camara
- Scott Hill taking over temporarily
- Search for a successor
- Camara said 63 words
(exechange) — Austin, Texas, September 11, 2023 — Kiwi Camara, chief executive of CS Disco, leaves his position. As announced by CS Disco Inc. in a news release and in a regulatory filing published on Monday, September 11, 2023, Kiwi Camara has left his post as chief executive officer at the provider of artificial intelligence-powered legal solutions, after almost 10 years in the role, effective September 10, 2023.
Generally speaking, it raises questions when a CEO leaves his post abruptly.
CS Disco will undertake a search for a successor.
Kiwi Camara’s duties as CEO will be taken over temporarily by Scott Hill, a former Chief Financial Officer at Intercontinental Exchange, as interim Chief Executive Officer.
Already a director
Hill has already been a member of the board of directors of CS Disco. Generally speaking, most director-turned-CEO appointments occur following a sudden resignation of the outgoing CEO and signal a lack of preparedness on the company’s part to groom internal talent. Directors-turned-executives represent a blend of outsider and insider.
They don’t have the constraints of a pure insider when it comes to leading painful changes or making unpopular decisions, and they have more company knowledge than a pure outsider.
Having been a director, Hill understands the expectations and dynamics of the board and has knowledge of CS Disco’s organization, risk-management practices and strategy.
“Applying the latest advances in AI to legal problems”
CS Disco did not give an explicit reason for Kiwi Camara’s departure from the CEO post. Krishna Srinivasan, chair of Disco’s board of directors, stated: “Disco was founded on the idea that better technology can improve legal outcomes and improve the experience of practicing law. Now, we look forward to continuing our technology leadership by applying the latest advances in AI to legal problems.”
Precise information regarding Kiwi Camara’s future plans was not immediately available.
“Step down/resignation”
CS Disco said: “Kiwi Camara, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, has decided to step down from his roles as Chief Executive Officer and a member of the board of directors.”
CS Disco further said: “On September 10, 2023, Kiwi Camara, Chief Executive Officer of CS Disco, Inc. (the “Company”), notified the board of directors (the “Board”) of the Company of his resignation from his position as Chief Executive Officer and as a member of the Board, effective immediately.”
“Not the result of any disagreement”
CS Disco stated, regarding the change: “Mr. Camara’s resignation from the Board is not the result of any disagreement with the Company on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.”
Share price decline since September 2021
The announcement follows a decline in CS Disco Inc.’s share price of 83% since September 2021.
In the position of CEO since 2013
Kiwi Camara became CEO of the Company in 2013.
Camara has indicated that he will make himself available to assist Hill during the transition.
Kiwi Camara co-founded the Company in December 2013 and has served as the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Company’s board of directors since that time.
Camara holds a B.S. from Hawaii Pacific University and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.
63 words by Kiwi Camara
In the release announcing his departure as CEO of CS Disco Inc., Kiwi Camara received praise and thanks.
In announcing his departure, Kiwi Camara said 63 words.
“Transition”
Kiwi Camara stated: “It has been an incredible experience growing this business from an idea to an industry leader. Disco is in excellent hands. I have every confidence in Scott Hill and the Disco team as they manage this transition and carry on Disco’s proud tradition of combining world-class engineering with a deep love and respect for the law to build product experiences that lawyers love.”
Push-out Score for Kiwi Camara’s move determined
The Push-out Score indicates on a scale of 0 to 10 how likely it is that Kiwi Camara was pushed out or felt pressure to leave his position.
exechange reached out to CS Disco and offered the company the opportunity to comment on the score.
Read the full story in the exechange report 38.2023 ($).