TikTok CEO resigns after just four months on the job
Kevin Mayer cited the US government’s potential ban as a reason for his quick exit

Former Disney executive Kevin Mayer, who became the CEO of TikTok four months ago, is calling it quits due to the US government’s push against the app’s China-based parent company, ByteDance.
Mayer said in a memo to TikTok employees: "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," according to CNN Business.
He continued: "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."
After rocketing in popularity in recent years, it ran into privacy concerns due to its parent company being based in China, which is known for prying into private data. Despite its attempts to brush off the privacy fears by ensuring users and government agencies its servers aren’t in China and don’t fall under Chinese rules, numerous companies banned the app on corporate devices.
TikTok’s struggles reached a peak when President Donald Trump signed an executive order essentially banning TikTok and WeChat, a China-connected messaging app, starting Sept. 20. The only way out of the US ban is for ByteDance to sell the U.S. TikTik business to another company or investors outside China.
Interest in the social media app has been relatively high, as Microsoft, Twitter and Oracle have expressed interest. But Trump’s demand that the U.S. receives a cut in any sale to an American company may throw cold water on any deals. Current ByteDance investors are also considering a buyout, as they explore ways to sell their stake in ByteDance and buy a stake in TikTok.
There is no official word on whether Mayer’s exit is immediate or if he’ll leave later.
Sign up today and you will receive a free copy of our Future Focus 2025 report - the leading guidance on AI, cybersecurity and other IT challenges as per 700+ senior executives
-
The race is on for Higher Ed to adapt: Equity in hyflex learning
Hyflex courses can improve student wellbeing and engagement, but only with meeting technology that leaves no one behind
-
Gen Z workers are keen on AI in the workplace – but they’re still skeptical about the hype
News Younger workers could lead the shift to AI, but only think it can can manage some tasks
-
CyberCX appoints Phil Mason as new UK CEO
News Industry veteran will lead CyberCX’s growth efforts in the UK
-
WANdisco's CEO and CFO resign amid ongoing fraud investigations
News The data firm is left with a heavily depleted leadership team with only one executive director remaining
-
Stop worshipping CEOs – tech is a team sport
Opinion Tech leaders are showing themselves for who they are, and it shouldn’t come as a surprise
-
Checkmarx appoints Sandeep Johri as its new CEO
News Experienced Silicon Valley executive will lead the applications security provider into its next phase of growth
-
Trustmarque hires NTT Data’s UK lead as its new CEO
News Simon Williams will lead the IT solutions and services provider into its next phase of growth
-
Cognizant appoints former Infosys president Ravi Kumar as CEO
News The executive brings more than 20 years of experience in the consulting, process, and technology transformation space
-
What tech investors can learn from three under-fire CEOs
Analysis With clear lessons to learn from the high-profile cases of Autonomy, Theranos, and Wirecard, investors should tread carefully in future
-
Another Salesforce leader departs, will replace outbound Slack CEO
News Slack's CEO and co-founder Stewart Butterfield also announced the departure of two other executives, but said the timing was purely coincidental