TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer resigns amid US ban threat

TAIPEI, Aug 27, 2020, The China Post. TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer, the former Disney executive who took on the role just three months ago, resigned on Wednesday (Aug 26) in a letter sent to employees seen by Financial Times, The China Post reported.

“Over the past few weeks, as the political environment has changed dramatically, I have been thinking in depth about what structural changes in the business will require and what that means for the global role I am committed to,” he said.

“In this context, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let all of you know that I have decided to leave the company,” Mayer added.

The U.S. executive left the ByteDance-operated company amid U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to ban the short-video app in the country.

In a statement to Financial Times, TikTok said it respects Mayer’s decision, which came as the “political dynamics of the past few months” dramatically shifted the scope of the CEO role.

The Trump administration said this month that it intends to ban TikTok in the US over concerns that it collects Americans’ personal data and sends it for use in China.