What’s Happening:
- Just months after taking on a new role as CEO of TikTok and COO of ByteDance, former Disney Executive Kevin Mayer has announced he’s leaving the company.
- CNBC is reporting that following political frustrations surrounding the U.S. division of the company, Mayer has made the decision to exit.
- In recent weeks, the Trump administration has raised concerns about TikTok's connections to China (parent company ByteDance is based in Beijing) finding it to be a potential national security threat.
- TikTok has defended itself from such claims stating that user data is stored in the U.S. with a backup in Singapore.
- Still the Trump administration has issued an executive order demanding the company sell TikTok before September 15th, or the app will be banned in the U.S.
- Mayer stepped into position with ByteDance on June 1st where his job was to oversee global development of the company, as well corporate functions including, sales, marketing, and more. Additionally, he was to lead music, gaming, Helo, emerging businesses, while serving as CEO of TikTok.
- In the meantime, TikTok’s U.S. general manager Vanessa Pappas will temporarily take Mayer’s position.
What They’re Saying:
- Mayer in Letter to Colleagues: “It is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company. I understand that the role that I signed up for—including running TikTok globally—will look very different as a result of the US Administration’s action to push for a sell off of the US business.”
- TikTok spokesperson to CNBC: “We appreciate that the political dynamics of the last few months have significantly changed what the scope of Kevin’s role would be going forward, and fully respect his decision. We thank him for his time at the company and wish him well.”
Kevin Mayer’s Letter:
Colleagues,
I decided to join this company this spring because ByteDance is utterly unique and it offered the opportunity to play a leadership role in a company that is changing the global internet landscape. Since joining, I have been incredibly impressed with the team and the company.
In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for. Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.
I want to be clear that this decision has nothing to do with the company, what I see for our future, or the belief I have in what we are building. Yiming understands my decision and I thank him for his support on this.
As we look to the next phase of this company, there is no doubt that the future is incredibly bright. For our users, any potential structural changes should not affect their experience, and I strongly believe that our community will be more creative and diverse than ever. The platform will continue to provide our global community an amazing and integrated experience as it does today. Similarly, from an employee perspective, I believe that the vast majority of work will be unchanged.
At the same time, I understand that the role that I signed up for–including running TikTok globally–will look very different as a result of the US Administration’s action to push for a sell off of the US business. I’ve always been globally focused in my work, and leading a global team that includes TikTok US was a big draw for me.
The great news is that the TikTok team will be in the incredibly capable hands of Vanessa, who will serve as interim head for TikTok globally. She has fearlessly led operations in the US, and won the trust of our employees, creators, users, and partners. I am extremely grateful for the time that I was able to work with her and wish her success.
In my short time here, I have been amazed at the passion and dedication of our teams, particularly given the political criticism that we have faced. Like all companies in our space, we face challenges, but I have tremendous confidence that we have a world-class security team in place working to make people on our platform safe, and an amazing global team that makes this such a unique, creative, and inclusive platform.
Thank you for all of your work during this period, and at heart I will always be a member of the ByteDance team, rooting for all of you.
Sincerely,
Kevin