A few months back in May, TikTok, the popular short-video app appointed Kevin Mayer as the new CEO. Mayer had joined TikTok from Disney, where he led its streaming business and was known for his role in building Disney through mergers, including the industry-changing 2019 acquisition of 21st Century Fox's TV and film business that created an entertainment behemoth.

"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 had then said in a statement.

Now after almost three to four months, the recently appointed CEO has taken a decision to step down citing 'change in political environment'. U.S. General Manager Vanessa Pappas will replace him on an interim basis, according to an internal memo seen by Reuters.

"In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for," Mayer wrote in the letter.

"Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company,” he added. 

The development comes days after TikTok sued the Trump administration over an executive order banning transactions in the United States with the popular short-form video-sharing app. According to ByteDance's founder and CEO Zhang Yiming, “Mayer had joined the firm just as it was entering arguably our most challenging moment."

Image Credits: MF Fashion