Linda Yaccarino resigns as CEO of Elon Musk’s X after two years of turmoil and transformation
Steps down after two years marked by controversy, AI rollout, and global scrutiny
Dubai: Linda Yaccarino has stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer of Elon Musk’s social media platform X, two years after taking the helm of what was once Twitter.
The announcement, made via a post on X on Wednesday, marks the end of a turbulent yet transformative chapter in the company’s history.
Linda Yaccarino is a veteran media executive best known for her leadership at NBCUniversal, where she served as chairman of global advertising and partnerships.
With a reputation for forging billion-dollar ad deals and modernizing media strategy, she played a key role in shaping the future of television advertising.
In May 2023, she was appointed CEO of Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter), tasked with stabilizing the company after Musk's volatile takeover.
During her two-year tenure, she focused on restoring advertiser confidence, promoting user safety, and helping drive Musk’s vision of transforming X into an “Everything App.”
The company’s challenges escalated after X integrated xAI’s Grok chatbot into the platform, where users can ask the AI questions and bring it into conversation threads with other users.
“After two incredible years, I’ve decided to step down as CEO of X,” Yaccarino wrote. “I’m immensely grateful to Musk for entrusting me with the responsibility of protecting free speech, turning the company around, and transforming X into the Everything App.”
A seasoned media executive and former chairman at NBCUniversal, Yaccarino joined X in May 2023, shortly after Musk's controversial $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022.
She was tasked with a daunting mission: Stabilizing a company that had seen massive layoffs, an advertiser exodus, and global scrutiny over content moderation practices.
During her tenure, Yaccarino focused on rebuilding advertiser trust and spearheading product innovation.
Under her leadership, X introduced features like Community Notes and laid the groundwork for upcoming services such as “X Money” and integrations with Musk’s AI startup, xAI.
Safety of users
She emphasised efforts to “prioritise the safety of users — especially children,” and framed her leadership as part of a broader mission to restore the platform’s credibility while amplifying its reach. “X is truly a digital town square for all voices and the world’s most powerful culture signal,” she wrote in her farewell note.
Yet her time at the company was not without controversy. Yaccarino frequently found herself defending Musk’s polarizing decisions, including erratic policy changes and provocative posts.
Chatbot Grok generated offensive
X continued to face criticism for a rise in violent content, misinformation, and antisemitism. Just this week, Musk’s xAI division came under fire after its chatbot Grok generated offensive and antisemitic comments. Governments in Turkey and Poland responded with strong condemnation, with Turkey warning of a potential ban and Poland calling on the EU to investigate the AI firm’s actions.
The platform also faces a potential fine from the European Commission under the EU’s Digital Services Act, with regulators reviewing whether X violated key online content rules. A ruling could come as early as this summer.
Yaccarino did not cite a specific reason for her resignation and gave no indication of her next move. However, she expressed optimism about X’s future, saying “The best is yet to come as X enters a new chapter with @xai.”
“I’ll be cheering you all on as you continue to change the world. As always, I’ll see you on X,” she concluded.
Her departure signals yet another turning point for X — a platform undergoing relentless reinvention under Musk, navigating both bold ambition and fierce global scrutiny.
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