TikTok CEO resigns due to 'sharply changed' political environment

TikTok’s chief executive Kevin Mayer resigned his post claiming there is a “sharply changed” political environment after US President Donald Trump accused the app of being a risk to national security.

Mayer, who had stepped into the role not many months before will be replaced in the interim by Vanessa Pappas, the general manager.

In a letter to staff, he said that he had taken his decision after Trump ordered TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, to sell its US assets to a US company within 90 days.

TikTok has consistently denied those allegations and says its US user data is stored in the country itself with a backup in Singapore.

“In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for,” the letter obtained by CNBC said.

“Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.

“I understand that the role that I signed up for—including running TikTok globally—will look very different as a result of the US Administration’s action to push for a sell off of the US business,” he added.

TikTok thanked Mayer for his time at the firm and wished him well. “We appreciate that the political dynamics of the last few months have significantly changed what the scope of Kevin’s role would be going forward, and fully respect his decision."

On 24 August, TikTok sued the US government alleging that it was deprived of due process. The lawsuit could delay imposition of the ban, buying TikTok more time to get a better deal for the sale of its American assets.