Linda Yaccarino Exits As X CEO

Linda Yaccarino, CEO of X, is stepping down unexpectedly, just months after Elon Musk’s AI startup, xAI, acquired the social media platform. 

Reuters reports Yaccarino, 61, announced her decision in an X post, stating, “I’ve decided to step down as CEO of X,” without specifying a reason. Her exit adds to the volatility in Musk’s business ventures, including Tesla’s declining sales and AI controversies, amid his public disputes with former ally Donald Trump.

Yaccarino, a former NBCUniversal advertising executive, led X for two years, tasked with rebuilding its reputation among advertisers wary of rising toxic content. 

Yaccarino had been working to restore advertiser trust, even suing the World Federation of Advertisers and others for allegedly orchestrating an ad boycott.Analysts noted the challenges Yaccarino faced, with Musk’s controversial reputation and X’s extreme content driving advertisers away. Despite this, Emarketer’s Jasmine Enberg said Yaccarino “accomplished what she was hired to do,” with X’s ad business projected to grow in 2025. 

D.A. Davidson’s Gil Luria suggested her departure might stem from a mismatch with Musk’s leadership style, exacerbated by Grok’s recent offensive posts.

Musk, who thanked Yaccarino on X, acquired the platform in a $33-billion all-stock deal in March. No successor has been named, and it’s unclear when her resignation takes effect. X faces ongoing debt challenges, while Musk’s other ventures, like Tesla, also see executive departures, including Omead Afshar and Jenna Ferrua last month. Tesla shares dipped 1% on the news.

Under Yaccarino, X pursued Musk’s vision of an “everything app,” introducing features like Visa payment solutions and a smart TV app.