Ton Roosendaal will leave his position at Blender on January 1, 2026

In a significant announcement for the Blender community, Ton Roosendaal, CEO and president of the company, has decided to step down from his position starting January 1, 2026. This decision was made public during the opening conference of this year's Blender Conference.

Details of the Leadership Transition at Blender

Blender’s Chief Operating Officer (COO), Francesco Siddi, will take on the role of new CEO, while the Blender Foundation board will also include Sergey Sharybin, who leads development; Dalai Felinto, in charge of products; and Fiona Cohen, who handles operations. This transition aims to ensure continuity and stability in the organization’s management, as Roosendaal will join the newly created supervisory board of the Blender Foundation.

Ton Roosendaal began the development of Blender in 1993 and established the Blender Foundation in 2002. Meanwhile, Francesco Siddi has been part of the company since 2013, serving in various roles ranging from animator and web developer to producer and industry relations manager. Siddi’s background within Blender brings hope that the leadership change will occur smoothly.

Preparations for the Change in Leadership

Roosendaal noted that the company has been preparing for this transition since 2019, highlighting the quality of the team surrounding him. “I’m very proud to have such a talented young team that will carry our free and open-source project into the next decade,” Roosendaal expressed during his announcement.

Recent Financial Challenges for Blender

In the context of this leadership change, the Blender Foundation also shared its financial report, revealing that the organization experienced a deficit in 2024. To address this situation, strategies are being implemented, including seeking new corporate donors and promoting small donations through more effective communication. Additionally, a reserve fund equivalent to three months of cash flow will be maintained as a precautionary measure.

Conclusions and the Path Forward for Blender

Ton Roosendaal's announcement marks an important milestone in Blender's history, a software tool that has revolutionized the world of animation and 3D modeling. The community is keenly anticipating the direction the organization will take under Francesco Siddi's leadership and how strategic and financial challenges will be addressed in the coming years.

We invite you to continue reading more about these developments and other related topics on our blog.