Twitter’s New CEO Announced, Replacing Elon Musk: Who’s Taking the Reins?

Elon Musk announced in December that he would step down as CEO of Twitter once a suitable replacement was found. True to his word, he announced on Thursday that he had hired a new CEO for Twitter, who would begin work in about six weeks. Musk will take on the role of executive chair and chief technology officer, overseeing the company's product, software, and operations.

Who's the New Twitter CEO?

The new CEO of Twitter will be Linda Yaccarino, an advertising executive at NBC Universal. The Wall Street Journal reported that Yaccarino is in talks to take over as CEO of Twitter, but her current commitments to rehearsing for an upcoming presentation to advertisers may delay her appointment.

Elon Musk had previously acquired Twitter for $44 billion in October 2022, but he has since stated that he now values the company at only $20 billion.

Twitter has undergone significant changes since Elon Musk took over as CEO. Musk has reduced the company's workforce by more than 70%, from 7,500 to fewer than 2,000 employees, reinstated users who had been banned under the previous regime, including Donald Trump, and changed the verification program, allowing any paying subscriber to obtain a verified blue check-mark badge.

Musk's proclivity to change Twitter's policies on the spur of the moment has fueled speculation about how long he will stay in the role and what impact his leadership is having on his other businesses. Some of Musk's changes have sparked debate and strained relationships with users, public safety officials, and advertisers.

Musk's views on free speech, as well as the flood of fake verified accounts that appeared on the platform after the launch of his revamped Twitter Blue, have also had an impact on the platform's advertising business, with several major advertisers pausing spending on Twitter due to concerns about their reputation.

Musk hinted at the CEO change in December by polling his followers on whether he should step down as Twitter's CEO and promising to follow their wishes.