In a shock transfer, Yaccarino says she is stepping from the social media platform previously referred to as Twitter.
Elon Musk-owned X’s CEO Linda Yaccarino introduced her resignation in a shock transfer, simply months after the social media platform was acquired by the billionaire’s AI startup, xAI.
In a press release posted on the platform Wednesday, the previous NBCUniversal promoting government mentioned she had “determined to step down as CEO of X” following what she described as “two unbelievable years” main the corporate by a serious transformation.
After two unbelievable years, I’ve determined to step down as CEO of 𝕏.
When @elonmusk and I first spoke of his imaginative and prescient for X, I knew it might be the chance of a lifetime to hold out the extraordinary mission of this firm. I’m immensely grateful to him for entrusting me…
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayaX) July 9, 2025
Yaccarino’s departure from the social media firm provides to the turbulence in Musk’s sprawling enterprise empire, together with falling sales at his electric vehicle maker Tesla and synthetic intelligence-related controversies. Musk can also be embroiled in a war of words with United States President Donald Trump.
She didn’t give a particular purpose for her determination. X and Yaccarino didn’t instantly reply to requests for remark.
The resignation comes simply sooner or later after Grok, the AI chatbot developed by xAI, posted content referencing Adolf Hitler on the platform. The posts have been later deleted following a public backlash.
“We began with the essential early work essential to prioritise the security of our customers — particularly youngsters, and to revive advertiser confidence,” Yaccarino mentioned in a submit on X.
Musk thanked Yaccarino for her contributions in a reply to the CEO’s submit on X.
“Linda Yaccarino’s abrupt departure could also be a results of a scarcity of match between her strategy and Elon Musk’s fashion,” mentioned Gil Luria, analyst at DA Davidson.
“This will have come to a head when the embedded AI chat Grok began responding to AI posts in an more and more offensive method yesterday.”
Tesla can also be coping with an exodus of prime executives. The billionaire’s shut ally at Tesla, Omead Afshar, was fired final month as the corporate’s gross sales continued to hunch. North America HR Director Jenna Ferrua additionally left the corporate across the identical time.
Yaccarino took the highest job at X, previously Twitter, in 2023 to assist Musk remodel the corporate after he purchased it in a $44bn deal.
Previous to changing into the CEO of X, Yaccarino spent a number of years modernising the promoting enterprise of Comcast’s NBCUniversal.
The social media platform is coping with a heavy debt load, and Yaccarino has typically needed to cope with controversies stirred up by Musk, as he lurches the platform to the suitable.
The corporate has sued quite a few advertisers and an promoting group, alleging they colluded to disclaim X commercial {dollars}.
Underneath Yaccarino, X launched a spread of recent options aimed toward turning the social media web site into the “every little thing app” that Musk aimed for, together with partnering with Visa to supply direct cost options and launching a sensible TV app.
The corporate was additionally exploring rolling out an X credit score or debit card, the Monetary Occasions reported final month.