X CEO Linda Yaccarino Resigns, Future Leadership Uncertain

Linda Yaccarino, who has been serving as the CEO of X, has announced her resignation, effective immediately. Yaccarino, who was appointed to the role in 2023 after leading NBCUniversal's ad business, has been a key figure in stabilizing the platform following its acquisition by Elon Musk. Her departure leaves a significant void at the helm of the company, prompting speculation about who will take over the reins.

Elon Musk, the owner of X, has not yet announced a successor for Yaccarino. According to predictions from Polymarket, the betting platform, the most likely outcome is that no immediate replacement will be named, with the odds favoring 'Nobody' for the next CEO position. This suggests that Musk may choose to leave the platform operating without a designated CEO for the time being, or he could potentially take on the role himself.

Yaccarino's departure was reportedly in the works for weeks. In a post Wednesday morning, she announced she would be stepping down from her leadership role. “When @elonmusk and I first spoke of his vision for X, I knew it would be the opportunity of a lifetime to carry out the extraordinary mission of this company. I’m immensely grateful to him for entrusting me with the responsibility of protecting free speech, turning the company around, and transforming X into the Everything App.,” she wrote.

Musk, replying to Yaccarino’s post, succinctly wrote “Thank you for your contributions.”

The decision to replace Yaccarino or leave the position vacant is now in Musk's hands. He has the option to appoint a new CEO immediately, continue without one, or assume the role himself. This uncertainty comes at a critical time for X, as the platform navigates the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Yaccarino's tenure at X was marked by her efforts to stabilize the platform and prevent an advertiser exodus following Musk's acquisition. Her resignation concludes a significant period for the company, and her departure has sparked discussions about the future leadership of X. The platform's next steps will be closely watched as it continues to evolve under Musk's ownership.

Polymarket users are split as to who will take over as CEO of X. A very thin majority of users believe no one will be named to the post, while nearly as many are banking on CFO Mahmoud Reza Banki. X brought Banki on as chief financial officer last November. Banki formerly served as CFO of Tubi and was pardoned by Trump in a case connected to 2010 charges for making false statements.

Not too far behind them is Elon Musk himself, with a 15% chance, according to Polymarket bettors. And Nikita Bier, who joined X as head of product just over a week ago, was behind Musk with an 8% chance. From there, the list becomes rather absurd, with candidates ranging from Grok, the Musk-overseen AI that went on an antisemitic tirade earlier this month, to social media star MrBeast to Twitter founder Jack Dorsey.