Michele Romanow out at Clearco as company lays off staff again, Andrew Curtis now CEO
By The Canadian Press on January 16, 2023.
TORONTO – Michele Romanow is stepping down from her chief executive role at Clearco as the e-commerce investing business she co-founded lays off staff. Finance worker Andrew Curtis will replace the “Dragon’s Den” star, a move that comes almost a year after co-founder and then-chief executive Andrew D’Souza stepped down following a romantic split with Romanow. Clearco spokesperson Nick Rosen-Wachs says Romanow will now share the executive chairman role with D’Souza. Rosen-Wachs adds the leadership changes are timed with a layoff of 25 per cent of staff. The company previously laid off 125 employees from its 500-person workforce in July and then 60 in August, when it handed off its international business to U.K. and Australian e-commerce investor Outfund. Clearco is particularly vulnerable to the current tech downturn because it provides startups with funding and loans that have more friendly terms than other lenders. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 16, 2022. 8-7
