Team,
We are facing some important changes in our leadership team that I want to share with you all.
After nearly five years as a valued leader on TikTok’s leadership team, V. Pappas has decided to step down to refocus on her entrepreneurial passions. As part of this, they will step down as COO and, in addition to their new responsibilities, will act as strategic advisors to the company. I would like to take this opportunity to thank V for her many contributions over the years. During their time at TikTok, they have been instrumental in growing the company, contributing to the company, improving our product offering and marketing campaigns, and building a positive community of creators and users. They have had a significant and lasting impact and we are truly grateful for their tireless efforts. I know V is looking forward to the next phase of their careers and we wish them all the best in their new role and future endeavours.
As we continue to evolve our organizational structure, I am pleased to announce the following new changes. Adam Presser, current chief of staff of TikTok, will become head of operations of TikTok. 20-year Disney veteran Zenia Mucha will join the company in the new role of Chief Brand and Communications Officer of TikTok.
In his new role as Head of Operations, Adam will assume responsibility for Global Operations, which includes Content, User Operations and Distribution, while continuing to lead the Project Management Office. In this role, he will seek to further develop the voices of TikTok’s vibrant and diverse ecosystem and drive closer cross-functional strategic planning and collaboration to bring to life our mission of inspiring creativity and bringing joy to people through empowerment and support Developers, Users and partners worldwide.
Lindsay Thomas and Kim Pham will join the Project Management Office, and Nicole Iacopetti, Isaac Bess, Seth Melnick, and regional operations and marketing directors – Rich Waterworth, Kim Farrell, Yoichi Sato, Angga Putra, Kinda Ibrahim and Marisa Hammonds – will report to Adam .
Since joining TikTok in April 2022, Adam has led TikTok’s PMO (Project Management Office) team and is responsible for driving strategic planning, supporting execution of business priorities, and leading the development and execution of key initiatives that… meaningful impact on the company. For the past year, he has led project management for EU data security (Project Clover), supported key government relations and communications efforts, and has driven TikTok’s business strategy and direction towards our 3-5 year roadmap. Before joining TikTok, Adam was executive vice president international at WarnerMedia and head of WarnerMedia China, Australia and New Zealand. Adam’s mandate in these regions has included the distribution and marketing of WarnerMedia’s global films and television series, the production of local language films and television series, the operation of the company’s television networks and the management of its ancillary businesses such as games, consumer products and themed experiences. He also led WarnerMedia International Home Entertainment Licensing.
In her new role as TikTok’s Chief Brand and Communications Officer, Zenia will focus on driving our brand’s strategic vision and advising key businesses. She will be responsible for leading the following key functions of the company: Global Marketing and Global Communications.
Zenia brings extensive experience and expertise in the entertainment industry and we look forward to her taking off. As senior executive vice president and chief communications officer for The Walt Disney Company, she led a 500-strong global media team and played a key role in making Disney one of the most respected companies in the world. Zenia was Disney’s primary spokesperson for over two decades, leading communications for all of Disney’s strategic business initiatives, including the acquisitions of Pixar, Marvel, Lucasfilm and 21st Century Fox, and the launch of D23, the first-ever official Disney fan club with members over 35 countries and the opening of Disney’s first theme park and resort in mainland China, Shanghai Disney Resort. Throughout her career, Zenia has an exceptional track record of advising senior corporate executives on strategy and crisis communications, media and investor relations, reputation management, brand optimization and employee relations.
I have been fortunate to spend a great deal of time with Zenia in her role as a consultant over the past few months and have benefited greatly from her advice and perspective. She has tremendous instincts and a clear vision of how best to grow and support the business. You and I agree that, in the spirit of Always Day 1, it is essential that we expand the reach of our marketing and communications capabilities to further strengthen TikTok as a popular brand and one of the most trusted entertainment platforms in the world. With Zenia’s extensive expertise and experience, we are well placed to do this effectively.
Kate Jhaveri, Jodi Seth, Hilary McQuaide, Erin Fors and regional communications leaders – Sophy Silver, Renata Polatti, Irina Pavlova, Rola Abu Hassan, Cheryl Long and Tsubasa Sato – will report to Zenia.
As we begin this next chapter, we thank Zenia and Adam for their support and enthusiasm, and look forward to working closely with them as we continue to evolve and grow together. I would also like to thank V once again for her contributions and continued commitment to the company. This is an important time for our company and I am confident that we are in a strong position to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead. Thank you for everything you keep doing and keep up the good work!