Disney’s Streaming Executive Kevin Mayer To Be New TikTok CEO

Kevin Mayer will take charge as CEO for TikTok as well as the COO for Bytedance, the app’s parent company.

Kevin Mayer, who was Disney’s direct-to-consumer unit chairman, is leaving to lead TikTok.

Photo: Altered by The Quint

Kevin Mayer, who is known to have spearheaded Disney's streaming efforts, is leaving Disney to join short video-sharing app TikTok as its CEO. Rumour has it that Mayer is leaving Disney because he was passed over by Bob Chapek for the post of Disney CEO after Bob Iger stepped down. Chapek earlier was the chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products.

Kevin Mayer will take charge as CEO for TikTok as well as the COO for Bytedance, the short-video app's parent company. Mayer has been the chairman of Disney's direct to consumer unit since it was founded in 2018. He shifted the division's focus from films and TV to streaming services.

Mayer joins TikTok at a time when the app has been downloaded over 2 billion times, but keeps getting mired in controversies. It has grown in popularity during the various lockdown phases instituted around the world.

The app is in the midst of a controversy with users downgrading it after taking objection to some of the content on the app. It has faced bans in the past in India as well.

In the US, lawmakers have said that TikTok could be a national security risk being a Chinese owned app. However, with TikTok naming an American as CEO from a brand like Disney, it could be seen as a move to help ease its image and lighten scrutiny from regulators.