Entire board walks out as 23andMe's CEO Anne Wojcicki stands firm amid turmoil
In a surprising turn of events, the entire board of directors at 23andMe, a DNA testing company based in San Francisco, resigned in September after a contentious month-long dispute regarding co-founder and CEO Anne Wojcicki's plans to take the company private. Following the mass resignations, Wojcicki, who holds 49.75% of the voting rights, is now the sole board member of the company.
The departing board members, including notable figures like YouTube CEO Neal Mohan and Sequoia Capital's Roelof Botha, expressed their ongoing belief in 23andMe's mission to personalize healthcare through genetic data. However, they indicated a fundamental disagreement with Wojcicki's strategic vision for the company's future.
In her first interview with Fortune since the board's resignation, Wojcicki acknowledged the complexities of the situation but expressed confidence in her ability to guide the company through its challenges. The tension between her and the board had escalated over her proposal to take the company private, a move that arose as 23andMe's valuation plummeted from $6 billion in 2021 to under $150 million.
The company's troubles began following its initial public offering (IPO) in 2021, when its stock debuted at $10 (approximately ₹840) per share but has since struggled, dipping to a record low of $0.30 (around ₹25) in 2024. Despite significant efforts, 23andMe has yet to turn a profit, facing declining sales and serious privacy concerns after a major data breach. Additionally, its drug discovery business, which was a financial drain, has been shut down.
Wojcicki's plan to take the company private was initially rejected by the board, who cited the absence of a premium offer for shareholders. The deadlock ultimately led to the board's resignation, despite Wojcicki’s assertion that her voting rights reflect her commitment to the company’s success. "I've always said ever since the very beginning, I don't need to be in charge. There's no ego for me. I care about the vision and the mission," she remarked.
A former leader at 23andMe indicated that the board's departure was not unexpected, shedding light on Wojcicki's leadership style. While publicly charismatic, she has been characterized as stubborn and controlling behind closed doors. Former employees have pointed to her leadership challenges and internal power struggles as significant issues that have surfaced since the company's IPO.
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MP HC sets up judicial commission to probe water contamination in Indore
Indore (PTI): The Indore bench of Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday set up a commission of inquiry comprising a former HC judge to probe the issue of water contamination in city's Bhagirathpura, saying the matter requires probe by an independent, credible authority and "urgent judicial scrutiny".
It also directed the commission to submit an interim report after four weeks from the date of commencement of proceedings.
A division bench of Justices Vijay Kumar Shukla and Alok Awasthi constituted the commission while hearing several public interest litigations (PILs) filed simultaneously regarding the deaths of several people in Bhagirathpura due to the consumption of contaminated water.
The HC reserved the order after hearing all the parties during the day, and released it late at night.
The state government on Tuesday told the HC that the deaths of 16 people in Indore's Bhagirathpura area was possibly linked to a month-long outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The government presented an audit report of 23 deaths from the current gastroenteritis epidemic in Bhagirathpura before the bench, suggesting that 16 of these fatalities may have been linked to the outbreak of vomiting and diarrhoea caused by contaminated drinking water.
The report, prepared by a committee of five experts from the city's Government Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College, stated that the deaths of four people in Bhagirathpura were unrelated to the outbreak, while no conclusion could be reached regarding the cause of death of three other people in the area.
During the hearing, the high court sought to know from the state government the scientific basis behind its report.
The division bench also expressed surprise at the state government's use of the term "verbal autopsy" in relation to the report, sarcastically stating that it had heard the term for the first time.
The HC expressed concern over the Bhagirathpura case, stating that the situation was "alarming," and noted that cases of people falling ill due to contaminated drinking water have also been reported in Mhow, near Indore.
In its order, the HC said the serious issue concerning contamination of the drinking water supply in Bhagirathpura area allegedly resulted in widespread health hazards to residents, including children and elderly persons.
According to the petitioners and media reports, death toll is about 30 till today, but the report depicts only 16 without any basis or record, it said.
It is averred that sewage mixing, leakage in the pipeline, and failure of civic authorities to maintain potable water standards have led to the outbreak of water-borne diseases. Photographs, medical reports, and complaints submitted to the authorities prima facie indicate a matter requiring urgent judicial scrutiny, the HC said.
"Considering the gravity of the allegation and affecting the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution of India and the need for an independent fact-finding exercise, the Court is of the opinion that the matter requires investigation by an independent, credible authority," it said.
"Accordingly, we appoint Justice Sushil Kumar Gupta, former judge of the Madhya Pradesh High Court, a one-man commission of inquiry into the issues relating to water contamination in Bhagirathpura, Indore, and its impact on other areas of the city," the HC added.
As per the order, the commission shall inquire into and submit a report on the cause of contamination -- whether the drinking water supplied to Bhagirathpura was contaminated; and the source and nature of contamination (sewage ingress, industrial discharge, pipeline damage etc).
The panel will also probe the number of actual deaths of affected residents on account of contaminated water; find out the nature of disease reported and adequacy of medical response and preventive measures; suggest immediate steps required to ensure safe drinking water as well as long-term infrastructural and monitoring reforms.
It will also identify and fix responsibility upon the officers and officials found prima facie responsible for the Bhagirathpura water contamination incident, and suggest guidelines for compensation to affected residents, particularly vulnerable sections.
The commission shall have powers of a civil court for the purpose of summoning officials and witnesses; calling up records from the government department, hospitals, laboratories and civic bodies; ordering water quality testing through accredited laboratories; conducting spot inspections.
All state authorities involving district administration, Indore Municipal Corporation, public health engineering department and Madhya Pradesh Pollution Control Board shall extend full co-operation and provide records as sought by the commission, it said.
The state government shall provide office space, staff, and logistical support to the commission, it said.
During the hearing in the day, the state government also presented a status report to the court in this matter.
According to reports, a total of 454 patients were admitted to local hospitals during the vomiting and diarrhea outbreak, of whom 441 have been discharged after treatment, and 11 are currently hospitalised.
According to officials, due to a leak in the municipal drinking water pipeline in Bhagirathpura, sewage from a toilet was also mixed in the water.
