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X CEO Linda Yaccarino resigns after two years

Linda Yaccarino, the Chief Executive Officer of X (previously known as Twitter), stepped down from her position on Wednesday morning, nearly two years after taking over Elon Musk’s troubled social media platform. 

“In my initial conversations with @elonmusk about his vision for X, I recognized it as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Yaccarino expressed in her farewell message. “I am incredibly thankful to him for giving me the responsibility to safeguard free speech, revitalize the company, and evolve X into the Everything App.”

Musk, who purchased Twitter in late 2022 and renamed it X, replied with a concise note: “Thank you for your contributions.” He has yet to announce plans for a successor.

Yaccarino’s sudden resignation occurs just hours after X had to shut down its AI chatbot, Grok, due to widespread criticism over antisemitic comments made by the bot. The timing of her departure—just before Musk's anticipated launch of Grok 4—has led to speculation about possible internal conflicts.

A veteran in the advertising industry, Yaccarino was brought on in 2023 from NBCUniversal, where she held the position of Chair of Global Advertising and Partnerships. Her primary goal was to restore advertiser confidence during a turbulent transition as Musk took full control of the platform.

This task proved to be a challenge. Just months after her appointment, Musk faced backlash for endorsing conspiracy theories and for public disputes with advertisers. One of his most infamous remarks occurred during a live interview in November 2023, where he told companies boycotting X to “go f— yourself,” specifically addressing Disney CEO Bob Iger.

In spite of increasing pressure and the loss of advertisers, Yaccarino remained loyal to Musk, defending X as a platform dedicated to “free speech and Main Street.” However, following Grok’s recent issues and the platform’s ongoing struggles with monetization, her resignation might indicate a more significant reckoning within the company's leadership.

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