Elon Musk, the billionaire who owns Twitter, announced from his account on a Thursday that, six weeks into a leadership period, a female chief executive will oversee the company’s day-to-day operations while he stays involved in high-level decision making as executive director. The plan marks a notable shift in how the platform is guided, signaling an emphasis on a structured management layer that can keep daily functions steady while Musk concentrates on broader strategic directions.
In the operational role, the appointed leader will manage the core duties Musk has identified as essential for X, including the responsibilities of chief executive officer, head of technology, product oversight, and the software and systems operations that keep the platform running. These duties are aligned with Musk’s broader vision for Twitter as X, the social network he acquired last October for roughly 44 billion dollars. The move has drawn criticism from observers who say the leadership approach may be uneven and disruptive to the network’s continuity, especially during a period of significant product experimentation and policy shifts.
From the outset of the acquisition, Musk assumed day-to-day management while implementing a sequence of reform measures. His governance and product direction have sparked debate as industry watchers weigh the potential effects on platform stability, advertiser confidence, and the user experience. Many questions have centered on whether rapid changes can be sustained without undermining trust among users and brands.
Earlier actions included a December online poll asking users to weigh in on who should run the platform. A majority voiced support for a leadership change, and Musk pledged to honor the result. Over time, however, the execution did not always align with that commitment. He later stated that he would resign as CEO once a bold successor could be found, with plans to devote more focus to the software and server teams, signaling a continued emphasis on technical performance and reliability.
The company has faced financial and talent challenges, including a substantial workforce reduction and ongoing questions about the platform’s capital structure. A series of strategy changes, such as introducing paid verification for accounts, produced mixed results and led to a temporary reversion of verified status for several high-profile accounts. These moves highlighted the tension between monetization ambitions and the platform’s established user base and influencer ecosystem, a dynamic closely watched by investors and industry analysts alike, as reported by Reuters.