GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke steps down to launch new startup

Thomas Dohmke is leaving GitHub at the end of the year, closing a chapter that saw the Microsoft-owned platform double down on artificial intelligence and grow its global footprint, Axios said in an exclusive report. His next move? Going back to his roots as a founder.

“GitHub CEO Thomas Dohmke announced Monday that he plans to step down, with Microsoft opting not to directly replace the position,” Axios reported, citing memos first shared with the publication.

Dohmke confirmed the resignation in a blog post, saying: “I’ve decided to leave GitHub to become a founder again.” He offered no details on the new venture, only hinting that the pull of building something from scratch was too strong to ignore.

Dohmke’s tenure at GitHub began long before he took the top job. A decade ago, he moved from Germany to the U.S. after selling his startup to Microsoft. He later helped lead mobile developer tools at the company and played a key role in Microsoft’s $7.5 billion acquisition of GitHub in 2018. When former CEO Nat Friedman stepped down, Dohmke took the reins.

Under his leadership, GitHub rolled out major AI initiatives through its Copilot products, expanded into more countries, earned U.S. FedRAMP certification for federal use, and saw the number of AI projects on the platform double. Today, more than 150 million developers use GitHub to store code, collaborate, and maintain software projects.

Axios first reported his departure, adding that Microsoft developer division head Julia Liuson will oversee GitHub’s revenue, engineering, and support. GitHub’s chief product officer, Mario Rodriguez, will now report to Asha Sharma, head of product for Microsoft’s AI platform.

Dohmke’s decision leaves Microsoft with a key leadership change to navigate in one of its most influential developer communities. His final months will be spent transitioning out before officially leaving at the end of 2025. Microsoft has yet to name a permanent successor.

For Dohmke, the pull is clear. After years of steering one of the largest hubs for software developers, he’s ready to trade corporate leadership for the uncertainty — and possibility — of a startup.