This continues to get more and more interesting!
Earlier today, just a few hours ago actually, Elon Musk announced he had hired a new CEO for X.com / Twitter.
He did not say who it was.
This was the announcement:
Excited to announce that I’ve hired a new CEO for X/Twitter. She will be starting in ~6 weeks!
My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software & sysops.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 11, 2023
Then just a few hours after that, WLT Report broke the news that we may know who the CEO is — even though Elon has not confirmed.
The bad news?
She is a Member of the WEF:
Elon Musk Announces New Twitter CEO, She Starts In About 6 Weeks
Ok, that's not good.
But now I want to advance the story even more....
And here's where it starts to get a bit murky and more interesting.
When you actually look at who she is and who she Follows on Twitter, you start to see a very different picture.
She follows Catturd.
And Jesse Waters.
And a whole lot more, probably a lot of the same list that you and I follow.
Take a look:
Rumor mill is allegedly that incoming Twitter CEO is Linda Yaccarino @lindayacc and she follows:
- Chaya Raichik
- Jesse Watters
- Michael Shellenberger
- Ron DeSantis
- The Babylon Bee
- JK Rowling
- Maye Musk
- Catturd
- Vivek Ramaswamy
- Tulsi Gabbard
- Bari Weiss
- Matt…— Maile (@MailePRMedia) May 12, 2023
I went through and verified this, it's true.
Here's a few more:
Tony Dungy.
Kevin McCarthy (I know, jury is still out on him, but still it's not Nancy Pelosi).
The Cali Conservative.
Libs of TikTok.
Rand Paul.
Dave Portnoy.
Monica Lewinsky.
Poso.
And a lot more.
Most notably, as I scrolled through the list, I did NOT see many Liberal names.
So it's not as if she's just following everyone for equal coverage.
VERY interesting.
But this is still troubling:
Elon Musk's New Twitter CEO is a World Economic Forum Member?
WLTR reported earlier Thursday on Elon Musk's announcement on hiring a new CEO for Twitter (X).
Elon Musk Announces New Twitter CEO, She Starts In About 6 Weeks
Musk revealed that he hired a female CEO for the company.
“Excited to announce that I’ve hired a new CEO for X/Twitter. She will be starting in ~6 weeks!” Musk said.
“My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software & sysops.”
Excited to announce that I’ve hired a new CEO for X/Twitter. She will be starting in ~6 weeks!
My role will transition to being exec chair & CTO, overseeing product, software & sysops.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) May 11, 2023
While these reports remain unconfirmed, several media outlets suggested that Twitter's soon-to-be CEO may be NBCUniversal's Linda Yaccarino.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the developments.
Breaking: NBCUniversal’s Linda Yaccarino is in talks to become Twitter's CEO https://t.co/Od7p5v2xpw
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) May 11, 2023
BREAKING: Linda Yaccarino is in talks to become the new CEO of Twitter, according to people familiar with the situation.
- WSJ pic.twitter.com/KToHRCamos
— X News Daily (@xDaily) May 11, 2023
From The Wall Street Journal:
NBCUniversal’s head of advertising Linda Yaccarino is in talks to become the new CEO of Twitter, according to people familiar with the situation.
Ms. Yaccarino, chairman of global advertising and partnerships at NBCU, has been with NBCU for more than a decade, where she has been an industry advocate for finding better ways to measure the effectiveness of advertising. As head of NBCU’s advertising sales, she was key in the launch of the company’s ad-supported Peacock streaming service.
Deadline added:
Sources immediately reached by Deadline were surprised, to say the least, though a big sign appeared last month when Yaccarino and Musk appeared in a keynote conversation at a conference in Miami. NBCU and Twitter then inked a major ad pact for the 2024 Olympics, an announcement accompanied by bouquet tossing by NBCU, an odd contrast with the dozens of advertisers and media agency execs who had expressed skepticism about Twitter under Musk.
When contacted by Deadline about the potential news tonight, Yaccarino’s top NBCU communications deputy responded only that “Linda is in back to back rehearsals for the Upfront.”
And from The Verge:
I wish I could say with certainty that it’s her, though the deal doesn’t seem to be totally done. The Wall Street Journal is reporting that she’s “in talks” for the job, and Dylan Byers of Puck says Musk “plans” to give it to her. Unfortunately, her spokesperson is ghosting me and Twitter has resorted to responding to press inquiries with a poop emoji.
I do know, however, that Yaccarino has been angling for the job and telling friends she wants it. The advertising world is certainly gossiping that it’s her. She recently hosted Musk at her “Possible” advertising conference in Miami for a gushing interview and has been tweeting up a storm, including about how excited she is for NBC to partner with Twitter for the next Olympics.
If these reports are true, is Elon Musk hiring someone with ties to the World Economic Forum?
Let's take a look at Linda Yaccarino's LinkedIn:
Yaccarino wrote a 2019 article for NBC Universal titled "Trust, Technology, and Transformation: 5 Thoughts from My Time at the World Economic Forum."
“Committed to improving the state of the world.” It’s the tagline for the World Economic Forum, one of the most influential gatherings on the planet. While it seems like a lofty goal, after a week in Davos, it’s hard not to feel inspired to improve our respective corners of the world. And the truth is, we need to. With each new talk or conversation last week, it became increasingly clear: Transformation is happening—whether we like it or not.
So, as I trade in Swiss mountains for New York streets, here are five reflections I’m bringing home:
Wall Street Women Forum wrote:
Yaccarino serves as Chairman of the World Economic Forum’s Taskforce on the Future of Work, the Chair of the Advertising Council’s Board of Directors. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the Ascena Retail Group (ASNA).
There's a possibility (rumor) that @lindayacc Linda Yaccarino is the person @elonmusk wants to replace him as Twitter CEO.
These are her most recent jobs listed in LinkedIn.
Joined the @wef in 2019, and worked for the Biden administration from 2021-2022.
What a mistake Elon. pic.twitter.com/nrmVqR1vXb— Justin Theory (@realJustATheory) May 12, 2023
🚨#BREAKING: Elon Musk is allegedly in talks to name NBCUniversal Executive and top World Economic Forum (WEF) Official Linda Yaccarino as new Twitter CEO. pic.twitter.com/VmizU6ggzo
— DEL (@delinthecity_) May 12, 2023
Linda Yaccarino is the Chairman of the WEF's Taskforce on Future of Work.
Also sits on the WEF's Media, Entertainment and Culture Industry Governors Steering Committee. pic.twitter.com/PzpVTkJiiR
— National Conservative (@NatCon2022) May 12, 2023
Reports that Yaccarino will be Twitter's future CEO remain unconfirmed.
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