William Gallagher
Two months after joining TikTok, CEO Kevin Mayer has resigned citing the politics around and impending ban in the US, and its impact on the global nature of the social media service.
Following a period as head of streaming at Disney+, Kevin Mayer became CEO of TikTok in June 2020, but has now resigned ahead of the forthcoming US ban on the service.
According to BBC News, Mayer has now written to all TikTok employees explaining that he resigning because of the politics. He says that the nature of his job would have become substantially different when TikTok is no longer allowed to operate in the US.
"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," said Mayer in his note.
"Against this backdrop," he continued, "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."
TikTok has not announced a successor, but a spokesperson confirmed Mayer's departure to BBC News.
"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," said the spokesperson. "We thank him for his time at the company and wish him well."
Neither TikTok nor Mayer have elaborated on his comment about expecting to "reach a resolution very soon." However, this could refer to the ongoing discussions that may see Microsoft buying the company.
Alternatively, Mayer may have been referring to how TikTok has now formally filed a legal challenge against President Trump's Executive Order. The order says that transactions between US companies and TikTok, its parent and the unrelated WeChat company, will be banned from September 20, 2020.
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3 Comments
Translation: He knows the company is getting sold, and he knows he's going to be out. He views the decision as political, which it is...though not necessarily because of federal politics. More likely it's internal politics of the company.
I read it more like this:
“It seems that the money I expected to make here isn’t going to happen, certainly not with the same level of being in control that I expected, so I’m off to find a different CEO position somewhere else.”
Must be nice to be able to walk away from corporate politics on one’s own terms. Never worked for me, but then I wasn’t even permitted to just do my damn job without interference from my bosses; there’s no way I’d have moved up the ladder in either case because I’m not the sociopathic type. I just wanted to do my work and take care of my clients’ needs, not play workplace political games.