If you understand the law in CA and most other states, "left to pursue other interests" for an executive is SOP...period.

When a "John Doe guy" leaves a company, even if canned, for ANY reason, when using a past employer for a reference in seeking a new job, the law in CA states the answer be, "he/she started employement on this date, and ended employment on this date." No reason for the departure is allowed, without the departed able to seek leagle action against his/her privious employer.

Anything else is illegal, yet done every darn day.

I say, lets put this WB story behind us, support FF etc, and move forward.