Douyin CEO Kelly Zhang steps down as head of TikTok’s Chinese version to focus on ByteDance video editor CapCut and AI
- Zhang, who joined ByteDance in 2014, has relinquished her role as head of Douyin, ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo announced on Wednesday
- Zhang will move to a new role focusing on video-editing app CapCut, as AI is expected to transform the field of content creation, Liang says
Citing “business development needs and personal preferences”, Zhang will focus on CapCut, a video-editing and graphic design app, according to an internal letter sent by ByteDance CEO Liang Rubo on Wednesday and seen by the Post.
“Artificial intelligence (AI) technology will substantially disrupt content creation and even give birth to new content creation platforms,” Liang wrote. “We hope to actively explore, fully understand and seize the opportunity.”
A ByteDance representative confirmed that Zhang had relinquished her role as chief executive of Douyin, adding that the company was grateful for her leadership.
ByteDance has no immediate plans to fill the vacant role, according to a person familiar with the matter, who declined to be named because they are not authorised to speak to the media.
