Jason Lewis layoff with Steve Wallace as compliance owner
Situation
Decided to proceed with Jason Lewis departure (structured as layoff) due to expectation misalignment and damaged relationship with Bjorn. Steve Wallace will assume all compliance responsibilities (ISO 27001, SOC 2, ISO 42001). Budget reserved for full-time replacement after 6-month layoff waiting period. Fractional hire and external auditor approved for interim.
Reasoning
The expectation misalignment creates ongoing conflict risk - Jason believes he is owed major equity in CIQ Federal which CIQ does not intend to provide. The damaged Bjorn relationship eliminates his path to strategic influence. Steve is the better long-term investment for compliance ownership given his existing VP Engineering position and relationship trust. This is about strategic fit and direction, not cost savings - budget preserved for replacement.
Additional Context
Steve presented the case for Jason retention but the personality fit, expectation gap, and Bjorn relationship damage made the decision clear. H1 2026 compliance workload includes ISO 42001 (new), SOC 2 Year 2, and ISO 27001 maintenance.
People Involved
Source
reflection
AI Confidence
82%
Related Context
fathom
Jason Lewis will be laid off to resolve a misalignment of expectations and repair a damaged relationship with Bjorn. Steve Wallace will assume Jason compliance duties to become a strategic voice for CIQ.
Outcome
Clear plan in place.
Rating: 5/5
Decision ID: a89e3924-5d96-452b-927f-b510699becd5