Disney Streaming Chief Kevin Mayer Leaving To Become TikTok CEO

Disney’s Head of Streaming, Kevin Mayer, is leaving to become the chief executive of TikTok and ByteDance, the Chinese company that owns TikTok. CNBC reports: It’s a huge score for TikTok, a social media platform that hosts short form videos. Mayer was considered one of the top candidates to replace former Disney CEO Bob Iger, before Bob Chapek was ultimately named chief executive. Mayer is also leaving Disney after the successful launch of its streaming platform, Disney+, which rolled out in November and had 54.5 million subscribers as of May 4. Mayer earned a reputation at Disney as being the company’s top deal maker. He spearheaded the company’s acquisition of BAMTech, which makes the streaming technology that powers the company’s online video services. He was also instrumental in Disney’s acquisitions of Lucasfilm (and the Star Wars franchise), Pixar, Marvel and 21st Century Fox over the last decade and a half. Disney veteran Rebecca Campbell will take over as Disney’s head of streaming, the company announced in a news release. Campbell is a 23-year veteran of the Disney company and has held leadership roles across Disney’s media, international and parks businesses. Most recently she served as president of Disneyland Resort.