The head of Wikimedia UK has resigned following a scandal that saw him banned from editing articles. Wikimedia.org confirmed today that Ashley Van Haeften has stepped down from his position as Chairman of Wikimedia UK. Jon Davies, CEO of Wikimedia UK said that Van Haeften felt 'there should be no division in the WMUK community over his role as chair.'
"Ashley is keen that there should be no division in the WMUK community over his role as Chair, especially at a time when so many great things are being achieved," Davies wrote in a statement. "He has therefore resigned as Chair. A board meeting, already scheduled for this evening, will see the election of a new Chair."
Van Haeften's decision to step down follows the news that he had been banned from editing articles on Wikipedia. The Telegraph reports that the former Chairman received an indefinite ban on contributing to the English version of Wikipedia by ArbCom. According to the news paper, Van Haeften target personal attacks against people who had concerns about explicit material on Wikipedia and material posted by Van Haeften, including a link to pornography in the biography of a person. Van Haeften is also said to have used multiple accounts to change pages.
Despite resigning from his post as Chairman, Haeften will remain on the Wikimedia board.
