In a notable leadership transition, Marina Krasnova and Alexander Tobol are stepping away from their executive roles at VKontakte. Krasnova, who has steered VKontakte as CEO since March 2021, and Tobol, the Chief Technology Officer who joined VKontakte in December 2022, are moving on to develop their own projects. The confirmation came through VKontakte’s press service as reported to socialbites.ca, signaling a planned shift in the company’s leadership lineup. [VK press service]
Looking ahead, VKontakte has outlined a new governance structure that will guide the platform from July 3, 2023 onward. The management of the social network will be handled by a Management Team, described as a professional cohort drawn from VKontakte and the broader VK organization, including senior executives who have steered key products and services. This professional group is expected to oversee strategic decisions and maintain continuity during this transition. [VK press service]
VK emphasizes that the revised management format is designed to reflect how most important decisions are made within the company. The aim is to sustain momentum, expand the user base, and continue delivering improvements across the platform and its ecosystem. The CEO of VK, Vladimir Kiriyenko, voiced confidence in this approach, noting that it has already proven its effectiveness and will help VKontakte continue to grow its audience while refining services for users. [VK press service]
The company also extended appreciation to Krasnova and Tobol for their contributions to VKontakte. Their leadership helped drive major initiatives, including successful launches such as Clips, Videos, Calls, Acquaintances, and other social networking innovations that expanded the platform’s functionality and user appeal. [VK press service]
Historically, Krasnova took the helm at VKontakte in March 2021, guiding the platform through a period of growth and feature expansion. Tobol’s arrival as CTO in December 2022 positioned VKontakte to accelerate its technical roadmap and introduce new capabilities that enhanced performance and user experience. As part of this transition, the company indicated that both leaders would pursue new projects outside the VKontakte framework. [VK press service]
VK’s broader strategy has consistently focused on sustaining user engagement through diverse content experiences and scalable technology. The beta period for new mobile experiences, including video features and collaborative tools, reflected VKontakte’s ongoing commitment to offering integrated services that complement social networking with multimedia and communication options. The leadership change underscores a measured evolution in governance while preserving a clear path for ongoing innovation and user value. [VK press service]
As the management team takes the reins, stakeholders can expect a steady cadence of decision making and execution from a seasoned group of executives. The transition is framed as an internal progression that leverages the strengths of VKontakte’s leadership and product teams to navigate a rapidly changing digital landscape. The emphasis remains on growth, reliability, and delivering a cohesive user experience across VKontakte’s family of services. [VK press service]