According to the Wall Street Journal, Linda Yaccarino, an executive at NBCUniversal, is reportedly in discussions to become the CEO of Twitter. This news follows Elon Musk’s recent announcement that he has found a new leader for the social media platform and will assume the role of chief technologist.
Musk stated in a tweet that the new CEO would begin their tenure in approximately six weeks, though no specific individual was named.Linda Yaccarino currently serves as the chairman of global advertising and partnerships at NBCUniversal Media. Neither Yaccarino nor a representative from NBCUniversal have responded to requests for comment. It is worth noting that Musk acquired Twitter for $44 billion last October with the intention of implementing significant organizational changes to drive the company’s success. However, he expressed feeling overwhelmed by his responsibilities and sought to step back from day-to-day operations.Musk will continue as executive chairman during the transition period.
He has faced criticism for his sudden policy shifts at Twitter and perceived neglect of his other ventures, including Tesla and SpaceX. The incoming CEO will inherit the aftermath of Musk’s ownership, including the challenges of addressing an exodus of advertisers. Twitter’s revenue has declined by 50% since October due to a significant decrease in advertising, as stated by Musk in March.Yaccarino is known to have a positive relationship with Musk, referring to him as a “friend” and “buddy” during an interview at a recent advertising conference. This potential appointment comes as Twitter and NBCUniversal recently expanded their partnership for the Olympic Games. The choice of Yaccarino as CEO has garnered support from individuals such as Lou Paskalis, chief strategy officer at Ad Fontes Media, who called her the best candidate to save the platform. However, some question her decision to work under Musk’s leadership.