Mozilla CEO John Lilly stepping down

Mozilla Chief Executive John Lilly is stepping down to join venture capital firm Greylock Partners as a venture partner, he confirmed to the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday.

Mozilla is best known for making the Firefox browser, which has stolen share from Microsoft’s Internet Explorer since its launch in 2004. Firefox now has market share of nearly 25%. It has also spurred innovation among all Web browsers.

Lilly has served as CEO of the open-source software nonprofit foundation since 2008, when he took over from Mitchell Baker, who remained its chairman. Before that, Lilly was its chief operating officer.

Lilly will remain at Mozilla until his replacement is found and he will continue to serve on its board of directors.

His departure was first reported by Boomtown's Kara Swisher.

You can read my profile of Lilly here.

-- Jessica Guynn

Photo: John Lilly Credit: Randi Lynn Beach / For The Times