Linda Yaccarino, the former advertising executive from NBCUniversal, has announced her resignation as Chief Executive Officer of X, the social media platform previously known as Twitter.
She revealed the decision in a statement shared on the platform on Wednesday, marking the end of a turbulent but transformative two-year tenure.
Yaccarino described her time at X as “two incredible years” during which she led the company through substantial changes under the ownership of Elon Musk.
Yaccarino was appointed in May 2023 by Musk to steer the platform through a period of advertiser uncertainty, reputational damage, and internal restructuring.
Her arrival was initially seen as a strategic move to restore trust among brands and business partners after Musk’s acquisition and controversial management style triggered widespread backlash and advertising pullouts.
During her tenure, Yaccarino helped launch several initiatives aimed at modernising the platform. These included enhanced advertising solutions, the introduction of new monetisation tools for creators, and the controversial but widely discussed Community Notes feature aimed at curbing misinformation.
She also supported Musk’s broader vision to transform X into an “everything app,” incorporating financial services, video, and AI integration through xAI’s chatbot Grok.
However, Yaccarino’s leadership was not without challenges. The platform continued to struggle with brand safety issues, high-profile content moderation failures, and a persistent decline in mainstream advertiser confidence. Tensions reportedly flared behind the scenes over the scope of her authority, particularly as Musk frequently posted inflammatory content and reasserted control over key decisions.
The final stretch of her tenure was clouded by controversy surrounding Grok, the AI assistant integrated into X. The bot faced backlash for producing antisemitic and harmful content, prompting renewed scrutiny over the platform’s AI governance and moderation systems. These developments, alongside mounting pressure from business stakeholders and observers, may have influenced her decision to step down.
Yaccarino did not specify when her resignation will take effect, and X has yet to name a successor. Elon Musk responded briefly, thanking her for her service. The leadership vacuum raises questions about the future direction of X, especially as Musk continues to pursue deep integrations between his companies, including Tesla, SpaceX, and xAI.
Her departure marks a significant shift in the leadership dynamics of X and could impact the platform’s relationships with advertisers and regulators going forward.
