TikTok CEO quits after less than three months in the job

TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer, who took the top job on June 1, has told staff he will quit the company. In a mail to staff that has reached multiple outlets, Mayer wrote that he signed up to be a global CEO but that: “In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the …

[TimMaher]

'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman

... then he was three minutes late.

[Dr_N]

Re: 'Repent, Harlequin!' Said the Ticktockman

Nice one.

[Pascal Monett]

Oracle ?

That Microsoft was intending to buy TikTok is no surprise. Borkzilla would buy a dead squirrel if it thought it could milk another billion out of it. But Oracle ?

There is no credibility there. Oracle and TikTok just don't go together. Borkzilla is already a worn-out patchwork of hodge-podge applications and tools, one more won't make a difference, but Oracle is just Oracle.

Does not compute.

[Valeyard]

Re: Oracle ?

I don't speak your language, what's Borkzilla? is it Microsoft since you mentioned them the sentence before?

[Steve Davies 3]

Re: Borkzilla

You must be new around here.

There is a regular series of articles entitled 'Bork Bork!' (or something like that) and it is invariably a Microsoft Operating System that has forgotten what day of the week it is (or worse) and refused to boot after a BSOD.

[sabroni]

Re: it is invariably a Microsoft Operating System

Seems you're not around as often as you claim either:

https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/20/bork/

https://www.theregister.com/2020/08/19/bork/

[Valeyard]

Re: Borkzilla

You must be new around here

Not according to the register:

Our records show you have been a member since 2012-11-14

[IGotOut]

Re: Oracle ?

Oracle because Larry is a Trump donor.

[Valeyard]

"With a heavy heart"

I'm sure that after 3 months he hasn't even picked his favourite toilet stall yet so this heavy heart comment and spiel about "our belief" (in stealing massive amounts of data) is just plainly the pilot telling passengers it's all good as he walks by carrying his parachute

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: "With a heavy heart"

If an executive leaves with "a heavy heart", it's because they're foregoing some of their compensation. He's probably not getting (as much of) his golden parachute by leaving so soon.

[skeptical i]

Re: "With a heavy heart"

" ... then TikTok had a second boss, it's M-A-Y-E-R,

who tried to lead it every day,

of a hectic three-month stay .... "

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: "With a heavy heart"

I dunno - it was almost certainly something that he wanted to do, and would be a pretty cool company to be involved in.

Sux to be caught up in politics. I thought America had taught us years ago that Free Speech always wins in the end. Even when you give your enemies free speech. Maybe America just isn't winning any more?

[IGotOut]

What would be really funny

Is Oracle buying it for a gazillion dollars, then the Chinese refusing an export license for the code and user database.

[Doctor Syntax]

Re: What would be really funny

Or charging a huge per CPU and/or per connection licence fee for the software.

[Doctor Syntax]

Jump or pushed?

Let's just suppose for a moment that he was appointed on the basis that having a USian as CEO might make things easier with the Tweeter-in-Chief. That's not working so if that was the thinking he's now superfluous to requirements.

[bombastic bob]

Re: Jump or pushed?

or the other possibility is that the CEO was attempting to resolve this problem and, in doing so, realized that the claims against TIkTok had actual MERIT, and as such, did not want his name associated with the aftermath. But of course, if you want a good recommendation for your NEXT gig, say nice things on the way out the door.

[Hollerithevo]

We know who is to blame

Sarah Cooper has a lot to answer for.

[Don Jefe]

Pointless

There was no reason for him to stay. He knew China was going to block the sale, as they have now done.