The Wing cofounder Audrey Gelman has resigned from her role as the female-oriented coworking company’s CEO. Gelman will be replaced by an “office of the CEO” which will consist of cofounder and COO Lauren Kassan, senior vice president of marketing and communications Celestine Maddy, and senior vice president of operations Ashley Peterson.
“The past three months have brought change to our society, our culture, our business and our team in ways no one could have imagined. The Wing remains a vital resource for thousands of women navigating their path to success,” a Wing spokesperson said in a statement. “But the moment calls for a rethinking of how we meet their needs moving forward and for new leadership that can guide The Wing into the future.”
According to an email obtained by Recode founder Kara Swisher, Gelman’s email to the Wing’s staff shared a similar message.
The company has faced criticism in the past about its feminist marketing, which came under fire after a racist incident occurred at its West Hollywood location last year. The New York Times also wrote a piece that shed light on the company’s reported hostility towards many of its members who are women of color.
“Simply put, The Wing doesn’t practice the intersectional feminism it preaches to the rest of the world,” said Alex Covington, the Wing’s brand director.
