Top Disney streaming executive Kevin Mayer to become CEO of popular video app TikTok
- Mayer led the successful launch of the Disney+ streaming service in November but was passed over for the chief executive job at Disney
Walt Disney Co’s top streaming executive, Kevin Mayer, will leave the entertainment and theme parks giant to become the chief executive officer of Chinese company ByteDance Technology Co’s popular video app TikTok, the companies said on Monday.
Mayer led the successful launch of the Disney+ streaming service in November but in February was passed over for the chief executive job at Disney.
TikTok, which allows users to create short videos with special effects, is rising in popularity among teenagers and has become a cultural trendsetter.
The Chinese ownership of ByteDance, however, has sparked concerns in Washington.
In November, the US government launched a national security review of ByteDance’s US$1 billion acquisition of social media app Musical.ly. Two senators have also introduced a bill to ban federal employees from using TikTok on government-issued phones.
To appease those concerns, ByteDance has stepped up efforts to separate TikTok from much of its Chinese businesses and has made several high-profile executive hires in recent months.