Disney veteran Kevin Mayer is leaving the company to become CEO of TikTok, the short-form video platform.
Mayer also is being named chief operating officer of ByteDance, the Chinese internet giant that is TikTok’s parent company. He most recently was chairman of Disney’s Direct-to-Consumer and International segment since its founding in 2018. In that role, he oversaw the launches of Disney Plus and ESPN Plus and the integration of Hulu.
Succeeding Mayer is Disneyland President Rebecca Campbell, a rising star at the media conglomerate, who was named chairman of Direct-to-Consumer and International. In addition, Walt Disney World Resort president Josh D’Amaro has been named chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, taking over that role from Bob Chapek, who was elevated to Disney CEO in February.
Mayer, prior to his most recent role leading Disney’s DTCI organization, served as the company’s chief strategy officer and was instrumental in wrangling a number of strategic acquisitions, including the deals for 21st Century Fox and BAMTech.
“Kevin has had an extraordinary impact on our company over the years, most recently as head of our direct-to-consumer business,” Chapek said in a statement. “He has done a masterful job of overseeing and growing our portfolio of streaming services, while bringing together the creative and technological assets required to launch the hugely successful Disney Plus globally.”
At TikTok and ByteDance, Mayer will report directly to ByteDance founder/CEO Yiming Zhang. “Kevin’s wealth of experience building successful global businesses makes him an outstanding fit for our mission of inspiring creativity for users globally,” Yiming said in a statement. “As one of the world’s most accomplished entertainment executives, Kevin is incredibly well placed to take ByteDance’s portfolio of products to the next level.”
With Mayer’s jump to TikTok, Alex Zhu, the company’s current president, will move into a new role as ByteDance VP of product and strategy, overseeing strategy and product design.
In a statement provided by TikTok, Mayer said, “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to join the amazing team at ByteDance. Like everyone else, I’ve been impressed watching the company build something incredibly rare in TikTok — a creative, positive online global community — and I’m excited to help lead the next phase of ByteDance’s journey as the company continues to expand its breadth of products across every region of the world.”
Mayer first joined Disney in 1993 let strategy and business development for all of Disney’s Interactive/Internet and television businesses worldwide. Later, he became executive VP of the internet group, responsible for the operations, business plans, creative direction and distribution of Disney’s popular Web sites, including ESPN.com and ABCNews.com.
In 2000, he left Disney to become CEO of Clear Channel Interactive and two years after moved to LEK Consulting, where he served as partner and head of the global media and entertainment practice before rejoining Disney in 2005 as EVP of corporate strategy.
Elaine Low contributed to this report.