Jakarta, CNN Indonesia —
Founder and CEO Twitter Jack Dorsey announced he was stepping down as CEO of Twitter on Monday (29/11) US time. Instead, he has appointed Parag Agrawal as CEO.
In an email he emailed to staff which he then shared publicly via tweets, Dorsey said he believed Twitter led by the founder would be very limiting and considered a point of failure.
“I want you all to know that this is my decision and I have it. It was a difficult thing for me, of course. I really like the service and this company,” Dorsey said in an email shared on Twitter.
Dorsey, who is also chief executive of payments firm Square, has been confronted during his tenure with tough freedom of speech questions, the challenge of creating a platform that is deemed profitable and the criticism he has spread.
With a shaved head, long beard and unconventional style, Dorsey has for many years led Twitter.
“Not many companies get to this level. And not many founders choose their company over their own ego,” says Dorsey.
Instead, Dorsey has appointed Twitter’s Chief Technology Officer, Parag Agrawal as his replacement.
Despite resigning as CEO, Dorsey will remain on the board until the next shareholders’ meeting in 2022.
“And after that… I will be leaving the council. Why not stay or become chairman? I believe it is very important to give Parag the space he needs to lead,” concluded Dorsey.
Dorsey, who co-founded Twitter in 2006 left after overseeing the launch of a new feature for creating content via newsletters or audio conversations, while simultaneously serving as CEO of his payments company Square Inc.
He also navigated tumultuous years of US President Donald Trump’s administration, eventually blocking Trump from the platform following the January 6 attacks on the US Capitol.
Over the past year Twitter has struggled to end criticism that it has been slow to introduce new features to its 211 million users.
Twitter is now also considered to be ‘losing’ to rival social media platforms, such as Instagram and TikTok, according to an AFP report.
Under Dorsey’s leadership, Twitter acquired the email newsletter service Revue and launched Spaces, a feature that lets users listen to live audio conversations.
(can/fjr)
– .
