TikTok was looking for a new CEO since last January to make the most out of its growing popularity in the U.S.
Disney’s streaming chief Kevin Mayer resigns the company to become the CEO TikTok, announced ByteDance Ltd. – the social network’s parent company.
Kevin Mayer will start with his new job on June 1st. Also, he will become a COO at ByteDance Ltd. According to the company, former Disney Head of streaming will oversee sales, marketing, public affairs, security, moderation, and legal. Apart from TikTok, he will also be in charge of music, gaming, Helo, and emerging businesses.
Mayer says he loved his job at Disney, but he couldn’t turn down the opportunity to work at TikTok.
“I just love the mission of TikTok, which is to bring joy and inspiration to people around the world,” Mayer said to Bloomberg.
Kevin Mayer has been working at Disney for 25 years. He stands behind the company’s most crucial strategical decision, like acquiring Pixar, Lucasfilm, Marvel Studios, and 21st Century Fox. However, according to The Verge, his best achievement was launching and rolling out Disney+ streaming service.
According to Bloomberg, although Kevin Mayer’s leaving is not unexpected, it could hit Disney hard. The company has lost enough in times of pandemic – Disney was forced to close its filming studio and theme parks for the quarantine.
“I would never have left ever if I thought it would put the roll-out of Disney+ at risk, that’s my baby. The team there knows how to do this,” Mayer believes.
Kevin Mayer’s colleague, Rebecca Campbell, will replace him at Disney. She has been working there for 23 years. Most recently, she has been the president of the Disneyland Resort in California. Campbell also ran the roll-out of Disney+ in Europe and the Middle East.
