Linda Yaccarino steps down as CEO of X after two years

Linda Yaccarino has officially stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of X (formerly Twitter), bringing an end to her two-year tenure at the Elon Musk-owned social media platform. Her departure was announced in a post shared on X, in which she described her time at the company as “the opportunity of a lifetime.”

Yaccarino joined X in June 2023, following Musk’s acquisition of Twitter and the company’s rebranding. She was brought in from NBCUniversal, where she served as Chairman of Global Advertising and Partnerships, and was widely viewed as a strategic appointment aimed at restoring advertiser confidence after a period of instability.

In her resignation note, Yaccarino thanked Musk for entrusting her with what she called an “extraordinary mission” that included protecting free speech, supporting the platform’s transformation, and contributing to its development as the “Everything App.”

“We started with critical work to prioritise user safety, especially for children, and to restore advertiser trust,” she wrote. “The historic business turnaround we have accomplished together has been nothing short of remarkable.”

During her tenure, X launched several new features and initiatives, including Community Notes, a user-led fact-checking system, and X Money, a financial services product that is expected to launch soon. Yaccarino also worked on expanding partnerships and advocating for the platform’s positioning as a global “digital town square.”

Her exit coincides with X’s increasing focus on artificial intelligence through xAI, Musk’s AI venture, which is expected to play a larger role in the company’s future direction.

Yaccarino did not disclose her next professional move but indicated she would continue to engage with the platform’s community. “I’ll be cheering you all on as you continue to change the world,” she wrote. “As always, I’ll see you on X.”

Yaccarino brought with her over three decades of experience in media and advertising. Before her role at X, she spent more than 11 years at NBCUniversal, where she oversaw global ad sales, partnerships, marketing, ad tech, data, and strategic initiatives. Prior to that, she worked for Turner Broadcasting System for nearly 20 years.

In her time as CEO, Yaccarino faced challenges including advertiser exits, content moderation scrutiny, and efforts to expand X’s platform capabilities. She also appeared alongside Elon Musk at various industry events, including an advertising conference in Miami last month, where she publicly supported the company’s leadership and direction.

Yaccarino’s resignation marks a transition period for X as it continues to evolve its business model and integrate new technologies into the platform.