Meet the Australian who's taking over TikTok's global operation - as furious Donald Trump forces Chinese social media giant to sell up in America
- Australian woman has been named as TikTok's interim head of operations
- Vanessa Pappas announced 'new chapter' to her followers on Twitter Friday
- She has taken over from Kevin Mayer, who quit less than three months in the job
- Mr Mayer's resignation follows US president ordering TikTok to sell US assets
An Australian woman has been appointed as the interim head of TikTok.
Vanessa Pappas, who had been working as TikTok's general manager in the US, Australia and New Zealand, announced her 'next chapter' on Twitter on Friday.
She has taken over from former chief executive Kevin Mayer, who quit less than three months in the job after joining from Disney.
Ms Pappas is a University of Queensland graduate and previously worked at Next News Networks and YouTube.
Vanessa Pappas (pictured), who had been working as TikTok's general manager in the US, Australia and New Zealand, announced her 'next chapter' on Twitter on Friday
'Incredibly proud and humbled to take the role of interim head of TikTok,' she tweeted.
'Our community and our team who work so hard to enable this product continue to inspire me.
'It's truly amazing what we've accomplished in 2 years, I have no doubt what we can accomplish in this next chapter!'
Mr Mayer resigned amid a 'sharply changed' political environment and US pressure for TikTok's Chinese parent company to sell the social media platform.
Kevin Mayer (pictured) resigned amid a 'sharply changed' political environment and US pressure for TikTok's Chinese parent company to sell the social media platform
'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,' Mr Mayer said in a letter to employees, CNBC reported.
'I understand that the role that I signed up for—including running TikTok globally—will look very different as a result of the US Administration's action to push for a sell off of the US business.
'It is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company.'
TikTok has come under fire in countries including Australia and India for its Chinese ownership and data security concerns.
US authorities are concerned that TikTok would hand over data to the Chinese government if asked.
The company claims it would refuse to share data and censor videos, even though the Chinese Government can compel businesses to share information with them.
On August 6, Donald Trump signed an executive order giving Americans 45 days to stop using the app, effectively setting a deadline fro the sale of the app to an American company.
US president Donald Trump (pictured) ordered parent company ByteDance 90 days to sell US TikTok assets and divest itself of 'any data obtained or derived' in the country
Vanessa Pappas
