Jim Buckmaster
Encyclopedia
Jim Buckmaster a native of Ann Arbor, Michigan
, is an American
computer programmer who has been the CEO
of Craigslist
since 2000.
He was an undergraduate at Virginia Tech and studied medicine and classics at the University of Michigan
in the 1990s.
In January 2000, while unemployed, posting his resume on craigslist, he was recruited by the founder of Craigslist
as lead programmer, where he contributed the site's multi-city architecture, search engine, discussion forums, flagging system, self-posting process, homepage design, personals categories, and best-of-craigslist. In November 2000, he was promoted to the post of CEO.
A fan of Noam Chomsky
, Buckmaster has been accused of being "anti-capitalistic", which Buckmaster claims is an inaccurate characterization:
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
, is an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
computer programmer who has been the CEO
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
of Craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
since 2000.
He was an undergraduate at Virginia Tech and studied medicine and classics at the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
in the 1990s.
In January 2000, while unemployed, posting his resume on craigslist, he was recruited by the founder of Craigslist
Craigslist
Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities featuring free online classified advertisements, with sections devoted to jobs, housing, personals, for sale, services, community, gigs, résumés, and discussion forums....
as lead programmer, where he contributed the site's multi-city architecture, search engine, discussion forums, flagging system, self-posting process, homepage design, personals categories, and best-of-craigslist. In November 2000, he was promoted to the post of CEO.
A fan of Noam Chomsky
Noam Chomsky
Avram Noam Chomsky is an American linguist, philosopher, cognitive scientist, and activist. He is an Institute Professor and Professor in the Department of Linguistics & Philosophy at MIT, where he has worked for over 50 years. Chomsky has been described as the "father of modern linguistics" and...
, Buckmaster has been accused of being "anti-capitalistic", which Buckmaster claims is an inaccurate characterization:
- "We are not so much anti-capitalist (...) We're fortunate enough to have built a very healthy business, even though we haven't attempted to. All we have done is stop short of trying to become insanely wealthy. We have met billionaires and it sounds funny but it's not necessarily a bed of roses to have that kind of money. (...) Their life becomes about figuring out how to employ all that money either by philanthropy or other means. So we don't consider it that revolutionary to have stopped short of that."
External links
- Jim Buckmaster Bio, Bio page from craigslist web site
- Zen and the Art of Classified Advertising, WSJ Interview with Jim Buckmaster
- Questions for Jim Buckmaster Fortune Magazine Q & A
- Hippie Gets a Job Globe & Mail Profile
- Wall Street Meets California Cool Videotaped onstage interview at SIAA conference
- MITX Fireside Chat (podcast) - Q & A with Scott Kirsner