X CEO Linda Yaccarino Resigns After 2 Years

Linda Yaccarino, the CEO of X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, announced her resignation on Wednesday. Yaccarino, who joined the company in June 2023 following billionaire Elon Musk's acquisition of the platform for $44 billion, cited her decision to step down after "two incredible years" at the company. In her farewell note posted on X, Yaccarino expressed gratitude to Musk for entrusting her with the responsibility of protecting free speech, turning the company around, and transforming X into the Everything App. She also highlighted the platform's future with xAI, Musk's artificial intelligence company, stating that "the best is yet to come as X enters a new chapter with @xai."

Musk responded to Yaccarino's announcement on X, writing, "Thank you for your contributions." Musk had appointed Yaccarino to replace him as CEO of the company in May 2023, expressing his enthusiasm for working with her to transform the platform into X, the everything app. Yaccarino's tenure at X was marked by significant challenges, including the need to boost ad revenue after many big brands pulled back on spending following Musk's takeover of the platform in October 2022. Companies such as Apple, Coca-Cola, and Disney had removed paid ads from X that year.

Despite these challenges, Yaccarino's leadership appeared to be improving the company's prospects. By January 2024, both Amazon and Apple had announced their intention to rejoin the platform. Prior to her role at X, Yaccarino spent over a decade at NBCUniversal, where she served as chair of global advertising. During her tenure at NBC, her team generated significant ad sales, and she also helped launch the company's ad-supported streaming service, Peacock. Before NBC, Yaccarino spent nearly two decades at global entertainment company Turner. In her farewell note, Yaccarino did not specify if she was immediately taking another job.

Yaccarino's departure comes at a critical juncture for X, as the platform continues to navigate the complexities of its transformation into the Everything App. The integration of xAI, Musk's artificial intelligence company, is expected to play a pivotal role in this transformation. The future of X under new leadership remains uncertain, but the platform's commitment to innovation and free speech is likely to continue. Yaccarino's contributions to the company, including her efforts to boost ad revenue and attract major brands back to the platform, will be remembered as significant milestones in X's evolution.