You Tube CEO Susan Wojcicki gestures during a session at the World Economic Forum annual meeting in ... [+]
YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki is stepping down from her role after 9 years, according to a note sent to YouTube employees Thursday morning and published online. YouTube is the most popular social media platform for American kids 13-17, with a stunning 95% using the site, according to the latest figures from the Pew Research Center.
Wojcicki will be replaced by Neal Mohan, who will serve as the SVP and new head of YouTube, according to the note released online.
“I’ve spent nearly 15 years of my career working with Neal, first when he came over to Google with the DoubleClick acquisition in 2007 and as his role grew to become SVP of Display and Video Ads,” Wojcicki announced.
“He became YouTube’s Chief Product Officer in 2015. Since then, he has set up a top-notch product and UX team, played pivotal roles in the launch of some of our biggest products, including YouTube TV, YouTube Music and Premium and Shorts, and has led our Trust and Safety team, ensuring that YouTube lives up to its responsibility as a global platform,” Wojcicki continued.
Wojcicki joined Google in its infancy as a company roughly 25 years ago, helping create Google Image Search and AdSense, but has spent the past 9 years as CEO of YouTube. Wojcicki praised Mohan as someone with a great sense of YouTube’s product.
“He has a wonderful sense for our product, our business, our creator and user communities, and our employees. Neal will be a terrific leader for YouTube,” Wojcicki wrote.
While TikTok grabs all the headlines these days, over its alleged threats to U.S. national security for being so closely tied to the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party, YouTube is still the most popular social network for American children aged 13-17, according to Pew. TikTok is a distant second, with 67% of kids in that age group saying they use the app, compared with 95% of kids using YouTube.
As for me, in the short term, I plan to support Neal and help with the transition, which will include continuing to work with some YouTube teams, coaching team members, and meeting with creators,” Wojcicki wrote, noting she’d spoken with Google CEO Sundar Pichai about the move.
“In the longer term, I’ve agreed with Sundar to take on an advisory role across Google and Alphabet. This will allow me to call on my different experiences over the years to offer counsel and guidance across Google and the portfolio of Alphabet companies. It’s an incredibly important time for Google—it reminds me of the early days—incredible product and technology innovation, huge opportunities, and a healthy disregard for the impossible,” Wojcicki continued.
“I always dreamed of working for a company with a mission that could change the world for the better. Thanks to you and your vision, I got the chance to live that dream. It has been an absolute privilege to be a part of it, and I’m excited for what’s next.”
