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On Thursday, TikTok’s American CEO Kevin Mayer resigned just two months after joining the company from Disney, sparking rumors about the reasons behind his sudden departure.
A popular theory is that Mayer’s departure is the result of growing political tension between the United States and China and the possible ban on TikTok in the United States.
Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that will ban TikTok in the country if no US buyer is found within 90 days.
But another reason behind his departure could be a clash of business cultures between US and Chinese companies when hiring senior staff.
Mayer was president of Walt Disney’s International and Consumer Direct Division before being hired as CEO of TikTok’s parent company ByteDance in June.
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US TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer resigned on Thursday, just two months after joining Disney’s Chinese social media company. / Reuters
US TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer resigned on Thursday, just two months after joining Disney’s Chinese social media company. / Reuters
But his role on TikTok was reportedly more restricted, which Arnold Ma, the founder of digital agency Qumin, says may be due to China’s “guanxi” business culture.
He told CGTN Europe: “I think he feels that he is not making a difference and that he is not having an impact and he has not been given the opportunity to make a difference at ByteDance at this time.”
“[In the West] When the new top executive joins a company, he is almost expected to be given the benefit of the doubt and immediately trusted with the details of the company involved in key decisions. “
Mayer addressed the current political climate in an email to TikTok employees to announce his departure. He said: “In recent weeks, as the political environment has changed dramatically, I have made significant thought about what the corporate structural changes will require and what they mean for the global role I signed up for.”
Ma explained, “So normally in Chinese company culture, when the leadership team changes or when a new senior executive joins a team, there is a period to meet the existing team or the current founder, or the current CEO. of the company.
“You need to get to know your colleagues on a personal level, like going out to dinner and lunch and meeting their families before you start talking business and before they allow you to get into the inner circle and really know the details. it’s almost completely the opposite. “
