Linda Yaccarino’s resignation from X as chief govt marked the top of a high-pressure — and at instances emotional — two-year stint that insiders described as riddled with stress, battle and energy struggles, based on a report.
At instances, Yaccarino was reportedly tearful within the workplace, worn down by the overwhelming calls for of working beneath Elon Musk and the rising strain surrounding her function, the Monetary Occasions reported over the weekend.
Yaccarino had claimed in an interview simply three weeks earlier than stepping down that “I’m the CEO of X and my boss remains the same.”
However final Wednesday she introduced her departure, citing X’s merger with Musk’s AI enterprise xAI as a turning level and calling it a “new chapter” for the corporate.
A number of individuals who labored with each Yaccarino and Musk mentioned the 2 have been essentially mismatched.
“Sheryl [Sandberg] found the rhythm with Mark [Zuckerberg]. Linda couldn’t find the rhythm with Elon,” one supply informed FT, referring to the previous chief working officer of Meta’s relationship with the CEO.
Their contrasting kinds — Yaccarino’s polished promoting world background versus Musk’s unfiltered, hands-on management — clashed repeatedly.
“Elon calls all the shots,” an promoting govt who is aware of each Yaccarino and Musk informed FT.
“She tried to ride the tiger but was thrown off.”
One other individual added, “He did not dig her style as a shiny, flashy Madison Avenue executive. He wants to have an authentic conversation and not be bullsh–ted.”
A breaking level reportedly got here early final 12 months, when Yaccarino helped safe a content material take care of former CNN anchor Don Lemon.
The association backfired after Lemon performed a contentious interview with Musk, asking if he used medicine. Musk canceled the deal, and Lemon is now suing for breach of contract.
The interior rigidity and lack of authority reportedly took an emotional toll. A number of individuals who labored with Yaccarino mentioned she was “at times being tearful in the office.”
One former colleague informed FT: “She lasted two years in a job that would have crushed most people in two weeks.”
Although she managed to lure again some main advertisers like Apple, Google and Verizon, many within the business questioned the sustainability and technique behind the return.
“To her credit, she did get advertisers back to X,” one longtime govt informed FT. “She did it with a gun, but they came back.”
One other added, “They did not return voluntarily or happily.”
Others criticized the platform’s underperformance.
“Many clients don’t advertise on X, not because of the content, but because it does not perform very well,” one govt informed FT.
Sensor Tower reported some renewed advert energy, and Emarketer projected a income improve to $2.3 billion in 2025 — nonetheless far beneath the $4.1 billion in world gross sales earlier than Musk’s takeover.
The Put up has sought remark from X, Yaccarino and Musk.
Yaccarino’s priorities typically diverged from Musk’s, notably round baby security — a priority she reportedly believed Musk was not centered on sufficient, based on FT.
She in the end knowledgeable a small circle forward of time about her resignation, which occurred to coincide with xAI’s chatbot Grok publishing antisemitic content material, FT reported. X workers mentioned the 2 occasions have been unrelated.
Yaccarino’s challenges started as quickly as she took the job in 2023, leaving NBCUniversal to assist restore the injury Musk’s $44 billion takeover of the platform had inflicted on advertiser relations.
Manufacturers had fled the platform, citing Musk’s unstable conduct and tolerance of poisonous content material. She was often known as the “Velvet Hammer” within the business, with a repute for toughness and a strong Rolodex of name contacts.
She scored some victories, securing offers with creators and sports activities leagues, upgrading X’s video options and laying the groundwork for a digital pockets known as X Cash.
She additionally aggressively pursued advertisers — at one level suing their commerce group and firms like Shell and Pinterest, accusing them of an “illegal boycott.”
However regardless of her efforts, she by no means gained full management of the corporate. Musk retained final authority, even in areas core to her function like promoting, the FT reported.
He started making unilateral selections — banning hashtags in adverts, charging manufacturers based mostly on vertical advert dimension — and employed product chief Nikita Bier with out her enter, based on FT.
Musk’s rising relationship with President Donald Trump created additional problems. His concentrate on politics quickly drew consideration away from X, providing Yaccarino some respiratory room.
“What saved her was the election and Elon diving deep into the administration,” one one that labored with each informed FT.
However as soon as Musk returned to enterprise and pushed the $45 billion acquisition of X by xAI, her place grew to become more and more tenuous, it was reported.
Monetary management was one other battleground. Musk introduced in Mahmoud Reza Banki as CFO, who reported on to Musk and bypassed Yaccarino.
Their relationship grew strained, particularly when Banki redirected funds away from creator and ad-tech investments — areas Yaccarino seen as essential, based on FT.
Publicly, Yaccarino remained loyal to Musk, however insiders steered her type by no means resonated with him. Her deep ties to Trump, nevertheless, stay intact, based on the FT.
She is reportedly near Ivanka Trump, HUD Secretary Scott Turner and Director of Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard. One confidante mentioned she nonetheless helps Trump regardless of his falling-out with Musk.
Her subsequent transfer stays unclear. Some speculate she might be part of the Trump administration or assume a public-facing function round free speech.
