TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer resigned Thursday amid US pressure for its Chinese owner to sell the favored video app, which the White House says may be a security risk.
In a letter to employees, Mayer said his decision to go away comes after the political environment has sharply changed.
His resignation comes after US President Donald Trump ordered a ban on TikTok, unless parent company Bytedance sells its US operations to an American company within 90 days.
I have done significant reflection on what the company structural changes would require, and what it means for the worldwide role I signed up for, he said within the letter.
“Against this backdrop, and as we expect to succeed in a resolution very soon, it’s with an important heart that I wanted to allow you to all know that I even have decided to go away the corporate .
Mayer, a former Disney executive, joined TikTok as CEO in May.
We appreciate that the political dynamics of the previous couple of months have significantly changed what the scope of Kevin’s role would be going forward, and fully respect his decision. We thank him for his time at the corporate and need him well, TikTok said during a statement.
