John Nitti, the advertising chief at X, has left his role after just ten months, according to a report by the Financial Times. Nitti, who initially joined as global head of revenue operations and advertising innovation, was seen as a potential successor to former CEO Linda Yaccarino, who resigned earlier this year. His departure adds to a series of high-level exits from the company’s executive team, with X’s CFO and xAI’s CFO and general counsel also leaving in recent months.
Sources suggest that these departures highlight deeper tensions within the company. Executives are reportedly frustrated with the CEO’s sudden shifts in strategy and unilateral decision-making, such as the abrupt ban on hashtags from advertising campaigns without consulting the advertising team first.
The pressure on advertising leadership has intensified as the CEO invests heavily in AI development to rival OpenAI and DeepMind. While some brands have returned following the CEO’s directive in 2023, others have raised concerns about feeling compelled to advertise after X took legal action against companies like Shell and Pinterest for alleged boycotts.
Prior to his role at X, Nitti had a lengthy tenure at Verizon and American Express. The ongoing executive turnover at X underscores the challenges of working in a fast-paced, high-stakes environment under the current leadership.
Source: TechCrunch