Telos Foundation Announces Leadership Transition: John Lilic to Succeed Lee Erswell as CEO

The Telos Foundation is announcing a significant leadership transition. After a successful tenure, Lee Erswell will step down as CEO, and John Lilic, who has served as the Foundation’s Executive Director since January 2024, will take on the role of Chief Executive Officer. John has been an active and visible leader within the Telos community, representing the Foundation at global events, driving strategic initiatives, and playing a key role in its growth. This transition marks an exciting new chapter for Telos as it continues to evolve and thrive in the decentralized technology landscape.

Reflecting on Lee Erswell’s Tenure

Under Lee Erswell's leadership, Telos has achieved significant milestones, positioning itself as a leading player in the blockchain industry. With the EVM 2.0 upgrade on the brink of going live—offering significant compatibility and stability enhancements—along with major strides in zero-knowledge proofs, the future of Telos has never looked brighter. Lee also oversaw the development and launch of Tekika, further strengthening Telos’ commitment to innovation and growth. His focus on scalability, security, and sustainability has laid a strong foundation for the platform's continued success.

Reflecting on his time as CEO, Lee Erswell stated, "As I step down from my role as CEO, I am incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished together. The innovations we’ve set in motion, like EVM 2.0 and ZK-proof technology, are pivotal steps in Telos’ journey. I am confident in John Lilic’s ability to lead the Foundation forward, and I look forward to supporting a smooth transition."

Introducing John Lilic as CEO

John Lilic, who has served as the Telos Foundation's Executive Director since January 2024, brings extensive blockchain expertise to his new role as CEO. Prior to joining Telos, John played instrumental roles at ConsenSys and Polygon, where he contributed to the development of the Ethereum ecosystem and advised on Polygon’s rise as a leading scalability solution. In addition to his technical achievements, John is recognized as one of the top 50 web3 angel investors globally. His experience and leadership have already been critical in driving Telos’ strategic growth, and he is well-positioned to guide the Foundation through its next phase.

At Telos, John will focus on:

Transitioning Telos into a community owned Venture Production studio with a multitude of products in service of its community and expanding utility for the TLOS token. These include an L1, EVM, L2, accelerating ZK research and development, SNARKtor, and building Telos X, our own CEX powered by the Binance Link program. It is no longer sufficient to just be an L1 but rather we must create our own ecosystem and build our own suite of products in services of the Telos community.

John Lilic commented,

“My focus is to evolve Telos into a pre-eminent blockchain venture product studio, community owned, with a multitude of products and services, like Telos X, in support of our ecosystem. We will become more than just an L1."

Views from Telos Leadership

"The Foundation is in excellent hands with John at the helm. His deep understanding of the blockchain industry, coupled with his passion for Telos, will drive the platform to new heights. I am excited to see the community continue to thrive under his leadership. Thank you all for your trust and dedication—let's continue to push Telos forward." - Lee Erswell

"I am thrilled to welcome John as our new CEO. Over the past nine months, I've had the privilege of working closely with him and have witnessed firsthand his unmatched passion and dedication to Telos. I look forward to continuing our collaboration and am excited to work even more closely under his leadership." - Raul Amoros‍

John’s Message to Telos Stakeholders

The Telos Foundation extends its sincere gratitude to Lee Erswell for his outstanding leadership and dedication over the past year. His contributions have been instrumental in shaping Telos' future. The Foundation looks forward to continuing its growth and innovation under John Lilic’s stewardship. We encourage our community and stakeholders to stay engaged and join us as we enter this exciting new phase of development.