Twitter said Thursday that two top executives are leaving the company. Also, most recruiting has been halted as Elon Musk prepares to become the global messaging platform’s new owner.
Kayvon Beykpour, a general manager who oversees research, design, and engineering at Twitter, is going, as is director of products Bruce Falck, according to a Twitter spokesperson.
A leaked message from Twitter’s under-fire CEO to employees stated that the digital giant needs the “right leaders at the right moment.”
He stated that temporary GM of consumer products Jay Sullivan will take up both jobs in a new combined post.
“The fact is that this isn’t how or when I expected to leave Twitter, and it wasn’t my decision,” Beykpour, who is on paternity leave, wrote in a tweet.
Twitter CEO Parg Agrawal “asked me to resign after informing me that he wishes to lead the team in a new path,” he added.
Twitter also stated that it would halt all recruiting except for mission-critical positions beginning this week.
Musk’s $44 billion acquisition of Twitter was announced last month, but it still needs shareholder and regulatory approval.
The takeover will likely be completed later in 2022, with Musk, who also owns space exploration company SpaceX, and electric carmaker Tesla, serving as interim CEO.
It comes as the social media company embarks on a wave of cost-cutting measures. These measures include reductions in contractor expenditure, travel and events, marketing, and real estate.
Agrawal also indicated that all recruiting would be halted as the firm goes through a difficult transition period before Musk takes over.
The Tesla magnate’s transaction is being investigated by US regulators. The delayed disclosing of the purchase implies that he failed to provide adequate notice that a takeover offer was imminent.
Tesla’s owner Musk has also stated that he would remove Twitter’s ban on Donald Trump, claiming that removing the former US president off the network “alienated a huge chunk of the country.”
Musk’s support for Trump’s return sparked concerns among activists that Musk would “open the floodgates of hatred.”
Trump has declared publicly that if allowed, he will not return to Twitter. Instead opting for his own social network, Truth Social, which has yet to acquire popularity.