Not quite long ago we reported the hiring of Kevin Mayer as TikTok CEO from Disney+ but new report has it that he had quit the job under just 6 months since his appointment. The reason is said to be based on the current political tussle between the Chinese government and the US under the Trump’s administration.
“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,” this was according to a TikTok’s spokesperson in a statement to The Verge. “We thank him for his time at the company and wish him well.”
The Chief executive announced his departure in an internal email which was obtained by the Financial Times where the company’s general manager Vanessa Pappas will be taking over the position as interim CEO pending the time they’re able to make another hire.
“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,” Mayer said in his letter. “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.”
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It’s no longer a news that over the last couple of months, the Chinese company had faced a serious pressure under the Trump administration. The incumbent president demanded that a US company purchase TikTok’s business which is a seen as a complicated deal considering the fact that the company operates around the world.
Microsoft was part of the forerunners vying to purchase the company while other companies like Oracle and Netflix have also eyed taking ownership of the company from ByteDance, the parent company.
Meanwhile in retaliation, TikTok did filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration for banning transactions with ByteDance. “The [Trump] administration ignored our extensive efforts to address its concerns, which we conducted fully and in good faith,” TikTok wrote in a press release. “We do not take suing the government lightly, however we feel we have no choice but to take action to protect our rights, and the rights of our community and employees.”
For the record, Kevin Mayer was hired by TikTok back in May while he left his position as head of direct-to-consumer content at Disney Plus and his input played a key role in the acquisitions of the company as well as Marvel Entertainment back in 2009, Lucasfilm in 2012 and the US$71 billion acquisition of 21st Century Fox last year.
While he left Disney Plus, Bob Chapek was named the company’s new CEO after Bob Iger became the company’s executive chairman. He was said to have been the top contender for the role of the CEO at the company but was never one until he left for ByteDance’s CEO which he had now quit.
