CEO Mozilla to retire at the end of this year

Mozilla CEO Chris Beard is stepping down at the end of this year. He announced that himself. The browser builder is looking for a replacement. If the company doesn’t find it in time, Mitchell Baker will temporarily do the honors.

Beard will continue to advise his successor and the Mozilla board, he said. In the meantime, he’s taking a break to spend more time with his family after the five years he describes as an “intense but satisfying service.” Beard became CEO of Mozilla five years ago.

Canadian Beard joined Mozilla in 2004 and was already involved with the organization when Firefox 1.0 came out. He held his previous position of marketing chief with the release of Firefox for Android and Firefox OS. In June 2013, Beard left for investment firm Greylock Partners, only to return a year later.

The director will retire at the end of this year and Mozilla has until then to find a successor. No name has been announced yet. If not by the end of this year, Mitchell Baker, the current chairman of the board, will take on the role of CEO. She has been involved with Mozilla since Netscape hired her in 1994.