Icelandic entrepreneur Haraldur Þorleifsson, known most often as Halli, was one among many to be let go from the American social media company Twitter this weekend.
One of Iceland’s top taxpayers
Haraldur sold his company, Ueno, to Twitter in 2021. The proceeds of the sale rocketed Halli to the top of Iceland’s list of highest taxpayers, where he has also gained recognition as one of Iceland’s most active philanthropists. Among his many philanthropic projects, he is most famous for Ramp Up, a non-profit building accessibility ramps throughout the country.
Since the sale of Ueno, Haraldur has worked as an employee at Twitter, where he is an active user and commentator. According to reporting from Morgunblaðið, Haraldur first discovered the news of his layoff when he was no longer able to log into his workstation with his Twitter credentials. Haraldur was, however, one among many at Twitter to be laid off over the weekend.
Mass layoffs
Following the acquisition of the social media company by Elon Musk, Twitter has gone through a number of organisational shakeups to streamline the company and make it more profitable. According to the New York Times, Twitter currently employs some 2,000 workers, compared with 7,500 when Mr. Musk acquired the company. The latest round of layoffs, occurring Saturday night, is reported to have affected some 200 employees, about 10% of Twitter’s remaining workforce.
The recent layoffs are also the largest since the largest round in November, in which fully one half of the entire Twitter workforce was let go.
Halli’s public statement on the matter can be seen below:
Two years.
Learned some things. Met some great new friends. Did some good work.
Laughed a lot. Cried a little.
No regrets.
🫡
— Halli (@iamharaldur) February 26, 2023
