TikTok named a new CEO and COO, in a strategic reorganization to optimize TikTok’s global teams and support the company’s unprecedented growth. Shouzi Chew, ByteDance’s CFO, will now also become CEO of TikTok, the world’s leading short-form video entertainment app. Vanessa Pappas, who has served as interim head, will formally take the role of TikTok COO, continuing with her current responsibilities.
“The leadership team of Shou and Vanessa sets the stage for sustained growth,” said Yiming Zhang, Founder and CEO of ByteDance. “Shou brings deep knowledge of the company and industry, having led a team that was among our earliest investors, and having worked in the technology sector for a decade. He will add depth to the team, focusing on areas including corporate governance and long-term business initiatives.”
Yiming continued, “Vanessa has provided strong leadership and will continue to oversee her current portfolio of responsibilities, including managing all of the platform’s key operations.”
“It’s humbling to be entrusted with this responsibility, and to partner with great leaders like Vanessa to drive TikTok’s unprecedented development as the global home for inspirational and creative content,” said TikTok CEO Shouzi Chew. “We will continue building out our strong and deep management team as we set the stage for the next phase of TikTok’s success.”
“It’s truly gratifying to have the opportunity to support the most creative and inspiring community out there, and to work alongside a management team that fully believes in that community,” said TikTok COO Vanessa Pappas. “I’m excited to deepen my partnership with Shou, and develop an even richer TikTok platform to provide people around the world a meaningful and entertaining experience. The TikTok journey is just beginning.”
Prior to joining ByteDance earlier this year, Shouzi held a number of senior roles with global mandates in the technology and investment community. In 2013 he led a team that became one of the earliest investors in the company. He is based in his hometown of Singapore.
Vanessa joined TikTok at the end of 2018 following a long career in the video platform space, most recently at YouTube. At TikTok she has been a key leader in driving the growth and success of the platform into a global phenomenon, with hundreds of millions of users. Vanessa is based out of the company’s Los Angeles office.
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