Bittrex Global's boards of directors named Stephen Stonberg interim chief executive on May 18, 2021, the same day Tom Albright stepped down from the role1. Stonberg had served as the company's chief financial officer and chief operating officer since February 2019, according to the boards' statement.
Five leadership moves at Bittrex Global on the record since 2020
Every move CryptoLately has verified there, by the day it became public
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Nov. 12, 2020 | Baron became Chief Compliance Officer. Jeff Baron was named Chief Compliance Officer of Bittrex Global |
| May 18, 2021 | Albright left as CEO. Tom Albright left as Chief Executive Officer of Bittrex Global |
| May 18, 2021 | Stonberg became Interim CEO. Stephen Stonberg was named Interim Chief Executive Officer of Bittrex Global |
| June 27, 2022 | Stonberg left as CEO. Stephen Stonberg left as Chief Executive Officer of Bittrex Global |
| June 27, 2022 | Linch became CEO. Oliver Linch was named Chief Executive Officer of Bittrex Global |
Six CEO appointments on the record in 2021
CEO appointments CryptoLately has verified, by year
- 2021: 6
- 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Moves: The Moves Ledger, CryptoLately's record of verified leadership moves, Oct. 3, 2016 to Oct. 2, 2026.
Read the chart as a table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 7 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 18 |
| 2023 | 17 |
| 2024 | 26 |
| 2025 | 35 |
The move
Bernews and The Royal Gazette both carried the boards' statement word for word. “Stephen Stonberg, current CFO and COO of Bittrex Global, has been appointed by the Boards to serve as interim CEO, to oversee management of the Companies,” it read1. Bill Shihara, co-founder of Bittrex Inc., welcomed the choice. “We are incredibly pleased that Stephen Stonberg will be leading Bittrex Global as interim CEO,” Shihara said. “Stephen has served as CFO and COO since February 2019, and has a deep understanding of our business, and has over 25 years experience in the financial services sector, and held leadership roles in blue-chip banking institutions”. He pointed to the industry's growth. “As more retail and institutional investment enters the cryptocurrency market, individuals like Stephen will be instrumental in bridging the gap between traditional finance and the cryptocurrency world,” Shihara said.
Stonberg spoke to the same opportunity in his own words. “I look forward to continuing the drive for innovation at Bittrex Global. Our new offerings such as tokenized securities [through Bittrex Global Bermuda Ltd.] are revolutionizing the crypto market. We have many more exciting opportunities on the horizon,” Stonberg said1.
Before and after at Bittrex Global
Bittrex Global picked a known executive over an outside search. Stonberg had held those finance and operations seats since February 2019, more than two years before the boards handed him the interim title. That left day-to-day authority with someone who already ran the company's budgets. The statement gave him a mandate to manage both legal entities, the Liechtenstein-registered GmbH and the Bermuda-licensed Ltd., while the boards weighed a permanent appointment1. Albright's exit statement said only that Stonberg would serve as interim CEO, and left the longer-term choice for later.
What came next
The interim label came off within thirteen months. Bittrex Global's own release, dated June 27, 2022, said Stonberg had “overseen the growth of the company and its personnel and the creation of a highly experienced leadership team” in his three years in its leadership, and announced he was stepping down3. The boards promoted Oliver Linch, then the company's general counsel, to replace him. Stonberg's tenure ran from his May 18, 2021 appointment to his June 27, 2022 exit.
Sources
- Bittrex Global, "Stonberg Appointed Interim CEO Of Bittrex Global," Bernews, May 18, 2021, https://bernews.com/2021/05/stonberg-appointed-interim-ceo-bittrex-global/
- Business Staff, "Change at the top for crypto company Bittrex Global," The Royal Gazette, May 18, 2021, https://www.royalgazette.com/international-business/business/article/20210517/change-at-the-top-for-crypto-company-bittrex-global/
- Bittrex Global, "Oliver Linch Appointed CEO of Bittrex Global as Stephen Stonberg Steps Down," PR Newswire, June 27, 2022, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/oliver-linch-appointed-ceo-of-bittrex-global-as-stephen-stonberg-steps-down-301575813.html