New Twitter CEO says she is excited to help to transform Twitter

AFP

Newly appointed Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino said in a tweet that she has been inspired by owner Elon Musk's vision to create a brighter future and is excited to help to transform the social media platform.

It was the first time Yaccarino has spoken publicly since the news broke Thursday that she was in talks to become the next CEO of Twitter. Musk, who has served as CEO since his $44 billion buyout of Twitter last October, announced her appointment on Friday.

"I've long been inspired by [Musk's] vision to create a brighter future. I'm excited to help bring this vision to Twitter and transform this business together!" Yaccarino tweeted.

Yaccarino, who as advertising chief for Comcast Corp's NBCUniversal spent several years modernising its ad business, said she is committed to Twitter's future, and said user feedback is vital to build Twitter 2.0.

She will take over a social media platform that has been trying to reverse a plunge in ad revenue and is beset with challenges, along with a heavy debt load.

Since Musk acquired Twitter, advertisers have fled the platform, worried that their ads could appear next to inappropriate content after the company lost nearly 80 per cent of staff. Musk earlier this year acknowledged that Twitter had suffered a massive decline in ad revenue.

While Musk said Yaccarino would help build an "everything app," which he has previously said could offer a variety of services such as peer-to-peer payments, his selection of an advertising veteran signaled that digital ads would continue to be a core focus of the business.

Musk has long said he intended to find a new leader for Twitter.

Musk, who is also the CEO of electric-vehicle maker Tesla Inc, on Friday said that bringing Yaccarino on as Twitter's new chief will help him devote more time to Tesla.

More from Business

  • US considers breakup of Google in landmark search case

    The US said it may ask a judge to force Alphabet's Google to divest parts of its business, such as its Chrome browser and Android operating system, that it says are used to maintain an illegal monopoly in online search.

  • UAE inaugurates first Global Rail Conference

    The first edition of the Global Rail Transport Infrastructure Exhibition & Conference (Global Rail) 2024 was launched in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday and set to continue until Thursday. The event, hosted by Etihad Rail, was inaugurated by several UAE officials and industry leaders. 

  • Boeing withdraws pay offer to striking workers

    Boeing has withdrawn its pay offer to around 33,000 US factory workers and no further negotiations were planned with their union representatives, as a financially damaging strike nears its fourth week.

  • UAE Cabinet approves AED 71.5 billion federal budget

    The UAE Cabinet, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and the Ruler of Dubai, has approved the Union General Budget Plan for the fiscal year 2025.

  • Emirates cancels Iran and Iraq flights until October 16

    Emirates has cancelled flights to Iran and Iraq until October 16, the airline announced on Tuesday evening. Earlier in the week, flights to Baghdad and Basra in Iraq had resumed before the latest update.