Paddy Cosgrave may have stayed in charge post-resignation

In a High Court trial, it was revealed that Paddy Cosgrave, the founder of Web Summit, may have continued to influence the company after his resignation. Cosgrave left the company in late 2023 after controversial social media posts about Israel and Gaza led to several sponsors withdrawing from the tech conference in Lisbon. Katherine Maher then acted as CEO until Cosgrave returned to the role in April 2024. During the trial, David Kelly, a minority shareholder, is accusing Cosgrave of a “deliberate cover-up” related to an allegation against another former director, Daire Hickey. Hickey has denied the claims made against him. A message sent to all Web Summit employees suggested that Kelly had interfered with the investigation into Hickey's case. The message was described as “inappropriate” by Cosgrave’s legal team, admitting it should not have been sent. This incident reportedly occurred while Cosgrave was supposed to be stepping back from his company role. Kelly and Cosgrave have a long friendship that began at a boarding school. They worked together for years to grow Web Summit, but their relationship deteriorated over time due to differing personalities. Cosgrave is known for his intense and controversial style, while Kelly prefers to avoid conflict.