X CEO Resigns After Two Years
Departure follows turbulent period marked by declining value and controversial decisions.
Two years after taking the helm of X, formerly known as Twitter, **Linda Yaccarino** has announced her resignation, leaving the platform amidst ongoing challenges related to user trust and financial performance.
Yaccarino’s Farewell
**Yaccarino** took to X to thank **Elon Musk** “for his confidence,”
expressing immense pride in her accomplishments, particularly regarding the “protection of freedom of expression.”
No specific reason was provided for her leaving the company.
Thank you @elonmusk for your confidence and for the opportunity to lead X with such a talented team. I’m extremely proud of all that we’ve accomplished during our time together and I’m grateful to you for your leadership and commitment to free speech. X is in such a great place and I know you will continue to inspire and drive even more positive change in the world.
— Linda Yaccarino (@lindayacc) May 28, 2024
Prior to her role at X, **Yaccarino** spent 12 years at NBCUniversal, a division of Comcast. At the time of her departure, her stint as head of the social media platform lasted only about two years.
Financial Challenges and Controversies
Following **Musk’s** $44 billion acquisition of Twitter, the platform’s estimated value plummeted, reaching $20 billion within months. According to a recent report by Statista, X’s advertising revenue in the U.S. is projected to reach $2.42 billion in 2024, a decrease compared to previous years (Statista 2024).
The decrease in value was largely attributed to controversies surrounding **Elon Musk’s** radical changes and extensive staff layoffs, resulting in diminished user and advertiser confidence.
Musk’s Continued Influence
Despite **Yaccarino’s** formal leadership position, **Musk** seemingly maintained significant control over X. Notably, he actively used the platform to endorse **Donald Trump** during the lead-up to the US presidential election. The relationship seems to have shifted, with **Musk** now using X to criticize both the US president and the Republican Party.
