TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer, who only started his job on June 1, is leaving again as the company plans a sale under pressure from the White House.
“In recent weeks, as the political environment has changed dramatically, I have given serious thought to what corporate structural changes will require and what this means for the global role I signed up for,” Mayer wrote in an email to TikTok employees late Wednesday. “Against this backdrop and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I want to inform you all that I have decided to leave the company.”
Mayer praised the staff's efforts, saying that “there is no doubt that the future [of TikTok] incredibly bright.” But at the same time, he added: “I understand that the role I signed up for, including running TikTok around the world, will look very different as a result of the US administration's actions to divest American businesses.”
Until this spring, Mayer was a senior executive at Disney, where he successfully led the launch of the Disney+ streaming service. However, in February he was unexpectedly passed by replace outgoing Disney CEO Bob Iger with Bob Chapek. Three months later, he announced he was moving to TikTok, which spawned tens from history about TikTok rapid growth and its potential to make him a powerful force in the media.
TikTok, in its official statement regarding Mayer's departure, said: “We understand that the political dynamics of the past few months have significantly changed the scope of Kevin's role going forward, and we fully respect his decision.”
