After five years, TikTok Chief Operating Officer (COO) Vanessa Pappas resigned from her giant social media service role.
The non-binary exec, who prefers to be called V, confirmed their departure in a recent Twitter post.
TikTok's Vanessa Pappas Resigns
WASHINGTON, DC - SEPTEMBER 14: Chief Operating Officer of TikTok Vanessa Pappas testifies during a hearing before Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee September 14, 2022 in Washington, DC. The committee held a hearing to examine “social media's impact on homeland security.”
According to The Verge, Pappas, the influential figure who spearheaded TikTok's meteoric rise to global fame, has made a surprising exit from the popular short-video platform. Their sudden departure comes as parent company ByteDance faces mounting scrutiny over its ties to China.
It is worth noting that Pappas played a pivotal role in navigating the platform through turbulent times. The CEO was TikTok's prominent face, representing the company in high-profile meetings and forging relationships with key stakeholders.
In a recent tweet, Pappas confirmed their exit. "After nearly [five] years at TikTok I am stepping down as COO," they wrote.
The TikTok COO also shared a memo that they sent to the TikTok workforce, informing employees of their departure. Pappas says the "time is right to move on and refocus on my entrepreneurial passions."
The top exec assured employees that the giant video-sharing service is facing "a very bright and stable future under the leadership of Shou Chew" and the rest of the TikTok top brass.
Pappas further disclosed that they are leaving the tech juggernaut altogether. Instead, the COO is moving forward with an advisory role on the video-sharing service. The memo notes, "I will be here to support [Chew], the leadership team, and all of you during this transition in an advisory role."
As per a report by CNN, TikTok Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shou Chew reveals that Pappas is exiting the company. The tech giant's big boss thanked V for their contributions to the social network for the past five years.
On Thursday, the TikTok boss also confirmed that other leadership changes are coming our way.
Its Chief of Staff Adam Presser, who used to work with WarnerMedia, is taking over a new role in the tech giant, sitting as its head of operations.
On top of that, the social network's operations head Zenia Mucha, who used to work with the Walt Disney Company as its communications exec, is the new TikTok Chief Brand and Communications Officer. Mucha's new role in the video-sharing service is responsible for the global marketing and communications of the social media giant.
Read Also: TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube Sued by Over 2,000 Families Due to Kids' Mental Health
ByteDance Scrutiny Over China Ties
In this photo illustration the social media application logo for TikTok is displayed on the screen of an iPhone in front of a US flag and Chinese flag background in Washington, DC, on March 16, 2023.
Gizmodo reports that the sudden departure of Papps comes at a time wherein the social network and its parent firm ByteDance are facing scrutiny from the US government.
Just last month, Montana officially banned downloads of the China-based app, making it the first state to do so. The looming TikTok ban kicks off beginning next year, or in January 2024, to be exact.
Related Article: TikTok's November US Ban Postponed Due to Lawsuit by Creators
