TechCrunch founder quits AOL following Huffington spat
TechCrunch founder Michael Arrington is to quit AOL after falling out with AOL’s editor in chief – Arianna Huffington.
Arrington’s departure comes less than a year after his technology site was bought by the internet giant and follows a public tiff over Arrington’s role at TechCrunch with Huffington insisting he had stepped down to become a venture capitalist and Arrington insisting: “I am TechCrunch and TechCrunch is me”.
Arrington’s relationship with Huffington is said to have been strained ever since she was appointed editor-in-chief of AOL’s blog network in the aftermath of the $315m acquisition of her Huffington Post site.
In a statement AOL said: "The TechCrunch acquisition has been a success for AOL and for our shareholders, and we are very excited about its future. Michael Arrington, the founder of TechCrunch, has decided to move on from TechCrunch and AOL to his newly formed venture fund.
"Michael is a world-class entrepreneur and we look forward to supporting his new endeavour through our investment in his venture fund. Erick Schonfeld has been named the editor of TechCrunch. TechCrunch will be expanding its editorial leadership in the coming months."