That didn't last long.  It's all here:
https://www.sjgames.com/ill/archive/April_18_2025/Meredith_Placko_Resigns_As_CEO_And_Other_Updates

Companies never provide the real reasons for these things.  Is it to remove the poison from SJ Games?  Let's see who replaces her.  In this case, you can't remove the poison entirely without taking the SJ out of SJ Games.

QuoteIs it to remove the poison from SJ Games?

Definitely not, though like, it could help a little bit for sure.

Wait, so Placko is effectively going back to her old job?

There are two possibilities. The first is that Steve Jackson fired or laid Placko off. I don't think this is the case because if Steve Jackson Games made the first move, they would likely have a follow-up plan. Also, it's VERY odd for headcount reduction to start at C-Suite level when SJ Games looks to have ~40 employees. The only way this makes sense is if something explosive happened behind the scenes and telling her to pack her desk up was an emotional reaction.

The second possibility is that this post is mostly honest; Placko is resigning without much warning to go back to her old job at Turbo Dork, and SJ Games is getting caught flat footed. I absolutely believe that. What I imagine happened is that Placko thinks Steve Jackson would require her to make layoffs in response to the tariffs, and she doesn't want to be a layoff CEO. She's handled the books at Turbo Dork and can make the educated guess that it is the more tariff-proofed operation.

Quote from: Fheredin on April 18, 2025, 09:52:40 PMWait, so Placko is effectively going back to her old job?

There are two possibilities. The first is that Steve Jackson fired or laid Placko off. I don't think this is the case because if Steve Jackson Games made the first move, they would likely have a follow-up plan. Also, it's VERY odd for headcount reduction to start at C-Suite level when SJ Games looks to have ~40 employees. The only way this makes sense is if something explosive happened behind the scenes and telling her to pack her desk up was an emotional reaction.

I, too, believe it was her idea to leave them high and dry.

Quote from: Fheredin on April 18, 2025, 09:52:40 PMWait, so Placko is effectively going back to her old job?

There are two possibilities. The first is that Steve Jackson fired or laid Placko off. I don't think this is the case because if Steve Jackson Games made the first move, they would likely have a follow-up plan. Also, it's VERY odd for headcount reduction to start at C-Suite level when SJ Games looks to have ~40 employees. The only way this makes sense is if something explosive happened behind the scenes and telling her to pack her desk up was an emotional reaction.

The second possibility is that this post is mostly honest; Placko is resigning without much warning to go back to her old job at Turbo Dork, and SJ Games is getting caught flat footed. I absolutely believe that. What I imagine happened is that Placko thinks Steve Jackson would require her to make layoffs in response to the tariffs, and she doesn't want to be a layoff CEO. She's handled the books at Turbo Dork and can make the educated guess that it is the more tariff-proofed operation.

I don't think I've ever see a C-level executive simply up and quit an organization without notice. I suspect this goes beyond the health of the business. She may have had serious disagreements with Steve, it may have been an abusive environment (in her eyes), or worse.

Don't forget Steve Jackson is apparently moving to Georgia. This could mean there are plans to move the company to Georgia as well and Placko doesn't want to go.

Quote from: Ruprecht on April 19, 2025, 01:46:20 PMDon't forget Steve Jackson is apparently moving to Georgia. This could mean there are plans to move the company to Georgia as well and Placko doesn't want to go.

The company is essentially an online collaboration project these days.  Everyone works from their own computers.  The HQ is kind of a shell brick and mortar building, and possibly staying put to take advantage of Texas' economic freedom.

Quote from: MerrillWeathermay on April 19, 2025, 11:27:42 AM

Quote from: Fheredin on April 18, 2025, 09:52:40 PMWait, so Placko is effectively going back to her old job?

There are two possibilities. The first is that Steve Jackson fired or laid Placko off. I don't think this is the case because if Steve Jackson Games made the first move, they would likely have a follow-up plan. Also, it's VERY odd for headcount reduction to start at C-Suite level when SJ Games looks to have ~40 employees. The only way this makes sense is if something explosive happened behind the scenes and telling her to pack her desk up was an emotional reaction.

The second possibility is that this post is mostly honest; Placko is resigning without much warning to go back to her old job at Turbo Dork, and SJ Games is getting caught flat footed. I absolutely believe that. What I imagine happened is that Placko thinks Steve Jackson would require her to make layoffs in response to the tariffs, and she doesn't want to be a layoff CEO. She's handled the books at Turbo Dork and can make the educated guess that it is the more tariff-proofed operation.

I don't think I've ever see a C-level executive simply up and quit an organization without notice. I suspect this goes beyond the health of the business. She may have had serious disagreements with Steve, it may have been an abusive environment (in her eyes), or worse.

She gave notice, although I don't know how much. The headline broke on the 17th, and her resignation became effective on the 18th, so at bare minimum she gave SJ Games something like one day of notice, otherwise the story could not have broken early. That said, I seriously doubt that SJ Games's first action on receiving the resignation was to post about it online, so it is quite likely that she gave them longer notice.

In fact, this may recolor his recent tirade on tariffs. Placko broke down the effects of the tariffs on a post on April 3rd, and that was when the letter from Steve Jackson started to get reposted (including here). Her resignation became effective on the 18th, or 15 days later. I obviously can't prove it, but that sounds like a two weeks notice to me. And if that's the case, the entire time that Jackson's letter about the tariffs has been floating around has also been while Placko's notice was on his desk.

So do you still get to keep the DEI money if your diverse, woke employees bail on you?

Asking for a friend.

Considering Steve has apparently learned nothing from this event, I'd say no.