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Hootsuite Founder Ryan Holmes Returns as Interim CEO

The leadership shift follows protests over a DHS contract that the company says does not involve surveillance.

Overview

  • Hootsuite founder Ryan Holmes, who disclosed the move Monday on LinkedIn, took over as interim CEO.
  • Irina Novoselsky said she and the board agreed this was the right moment to transition after restoring profitability.
  • Holmes said he will speed work on artificial intelligence tools for customers, calling this the next AI-driven era for Hootsuite.
  • Public records show a Department of Homeland Security deal through Seneca Strategic Partners to use Hootsuite’s platform worth up to US$2.8 million, and The Globe and Mail reported a US$95,000 ICE pilot in September 2025.
  • The company says its tools do not let clients track people, a stance it has repeated as protesters gathered outside its Vancouver headquarters.