In a post on Saturday, newly appointed Twitter CEO Linda Yaccarino stated that she is inspired by owner Elon Musk’s vision for a brighter future and is enthusiastic to help modernise the social media network.
It was Yaccarino’s first public statement since news leaked on Thursday that she was in discussions to become Twitter’s next CEO. Musk, who has been CEO since his $44 billion takeover last October, confirmed her hiring on Friday.
“Musk’s vision of a brighter future has long inspired me.” I’m thrilled to be a part of bringing this vision to Twitter and transforming the company together!” Yaccarino sent a tweet.
Yaccarino, who as advertising chief for Comcast Corp’s (CMCSA.O) NBCUniversal spent several years modernizing its ad business, said she is committed to app’s future, and said user feedback is vital to build Twitter 2.0.
Yaccarino 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 the social media platform, advertisers have fled the platform, worried that their ads could appear next to inappropriate content after the company lost nearly 80% 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 (TSLA.O), on Friday said that bringing Yaccarino on as Twitter’s new chief will help him devote more time to Tesla.
