Ron Conway Resigns from Salesforce Board Following Benioff’s Comments

Ron Conway, a highly regarded venture capitalist in Silicon Valley, has stepped down from the board of the Salesforce Foundation. This decision follows controversial statements made by Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff regarding the deployment of the National Guard in San Francisco. Reports indicate that Conway, founder of the investment group SV Angel, expressed his discontent with Benioff’s remarks in a direct email.

In his correspondence, which was first highlighted by The New York Times, Conway stated that his and Benioff’s “values were no longer aligned.” He conveyed his disappointment, asserting that he could no longer recognize the person he had respected for over two decades. Conway’s email included strong criticisms of Benioff’s call for federal intervention in the city, stating, “I am shocked and disappointed by your comments calling for an unwanted invasion of San Francisco by federal troops.”

Context Surrounding Conway’s Resignation

Benioff’s comments emerged during an interview with The New York Times just before Salesforce’s annual “Dreamforce” event. He suggested that the National Guard might be necessary to address safety concerns in the city. Despite this assertion, Benioff later attempted to clarify his statements, choosing not to address them directly during a keynote address at the conference.

The situation escalated when former President Donald Trump publicly supported the idea of deploying the National Guard in San Francisco, stating he would “strongly recommend” it as a solution. This claim came despite local officials reporting a significant decrease in crime rates, including a historic low in homicides. Notably, there are no public records indicating that city or state officials have formally requested federal assistance.

Reactions From the Tech Community

Conway’s resignation and the surrounding discourse have attracted attention from other prominent figures in the tech community. Elon Musk, another billionaire entrepreneur, echoed Benioff’s sentiments on the social media platform X, stating that sending the National Guard was “the only solution at this point.”

In his email to Benioff, Conway implied that the Salesforce CEO’s call for federal troops might stem from a reluctance to fund additional security for the Dreamforce event. He remarked, “San Francisco does not need a federal invasion because you don’t like paying for extra security for Dreamforce.”

Benioff, a native of San Francisco, is known for his philanthropy and contributions to the city. However, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, he has primarily resided on the Big Island of Hawaii. Conway’s departure from the Salesforce Foundation board highlights a significant rift between influential figures in the tech industry regarding approaches to public safety and community support.