The latest from the frontlines of the world’s fastest growing companies and the teams doing the work. 

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These are the most notable hires, promotions, and departures within the US tech community in the last week. For executive news updated daily, check out The Org's People on the Move.

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The Biggest Moves in Tech This Week

Merida will become the third person of color to lead the L.A. Times, which has grown to be the largest news organization in the West with a nearly 500-person newsroom. He will be the 19th editor to take the helm since the paper’s inception in December 1881. 

Kevin Merida will be the 19th editor to lead the Los Angeles Times since 1881. Image Credit: Teresa Kroeger / Getty Images. 

Kevin Merida

ESPN’s Kevin Merida to Lead as Top Editor at Los Angeles Times

Warren Buffett has broken his silence on who will lead Berkshire Hathaway after Buffett's tenure. It's the first time the American billionaire has ever publicly mentioned a successor, despite years of speculation. 

Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway, after an annual shareholder meeting in Omaha, Nebraska in 2015. Buffett has never publicly mentioned stepping down from his role. Editorial credit: Kent Sievers / Shutterstock.com

Warren Buffett

Warren Buffett Name Drops A Successor 

Some of the biggest names in tech have come out of YC: Airbnb, DoorDash, GitLab, and Reddit to name a few. But these startups have also created thousands of jobs and have disrupted entire markets once they get in the game. Take a look at the org charts and origin stories for the top companies to come out of Mountain View.

Airbnb founder and CEO Brian Chesky at a conference in 2016. Airbnb was part of YC's W09 batch. Courtesy of Airbnb. 

Brian Chesky 

The Teams Behind the Top Seven Companies to Come Out of Y Combinator 

Bengio, who has been with Google for over 14 years, resigned from the tech giant last week after the company fired two of its top AI researchers, Timnit Gebru and Margaret Mitchell over claims of discrimination and racism that sparked industry-wide outrage. He will now be joining Apple as head of the new AI research unit.

Apple hires former Google executive, Samy Bengio. Image Source: Vytautas Kielaitis, Shutterstock.

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Former Google Executive Joins Apple as Head of New AI Research Unit

The Coca-Cola Company has named Saadia Madsbjerg as its VP of Global Community Affairs and President of The Coca-Cola Foundation.

Saadia Madsbjerg. Image courtesy of Coca-Cola, Business Wire

Saadia Madsbjerg

Coca-Cola Selects New Foundation President

Max Hodak, Co-founder of Neuralink, tweeted that he has stepped down from his position as President of the company on Saturday. 

Max Hodak, President of Neuralink, Steps Down. Image Source: Rafapress, Shutterstock.

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President and Co-founder of Elon Musk’s Neuralink Steps Down

Paul Richardson has been named as The Walt Disney Company’s new Senior Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, effective July 1.

Paul Richardson. Image credit: The Walt Disney Company

Paul Richardson

Disney Will Have a New HR Chief This Summer

Jason Fried, Basecamp's co-founder and CEO, released a controversial memo on Monday, banning employees from engaging in conversations about politics at work. This announcement sent shockwaves through social media and Silicon Valley. Many former and current employees, including high profile figures within the company, took to Twitter to voice their concerns. 


Basecamp employees can no longer engage in conversations about politics at work. Image credit: Studiostoks, Shutterstock.

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Why Basecamp Banned Talking Politics at Work

Chew first joined ByteDance in March as its first-ever CFO. His hire signaled the Beijing-based company is gearing up for an IPO. 

Editorial credit: XanderSt / Shutterstock.com

Bytedance CFO to take over as TikTok CEO

ByteDance CFO to Take Over as CEO of TikTok

This week, NBCUniversal found a product chief for Peacock, Raytheon named a new Chairman, and FOX named its first Chief Growth Officer.

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The 10 Most Important Executive Moves This Week

FOX Corporation has selected its first Chief Growth Officer, Steve Chung, as the company eyes opportunities in new digital spaces.

Steve Chung. Image credit: FOX Corporation

Steve Chung

FOX Names Growth Chief to Bolster Digital Efforts

The COVID-19 pandemic sent the world into lockdown, marking a pivotal moment where many started their work from home journeys. But did transparency improve once we all started working remotely?  We asked 1,000 working adults in the U.S. for their thoughts on transparency in our new hybrid workplaces. Here are the results. 

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What Does Transparency in Business Look Like After a Global Pandemic? 

Best Buy has announced that its President and Chief Operating Officer, Mike Mohan, will step down in July 2021, according to a memo seen by the Star Tribune.

Mike Mohan 

Best Buy’s President & COO Will Depart and Won’t Be Replaced

Latin America is far behind in corporate venturing despite a startup investment boom in the region. We took a look at a handful of companies in the area that are leading the way as LatAm looks to catch up.

Downtown Santiago, Chile after sunset. Editorial credit:  Filip Fuxa / Shutterstock.com

Santiago, Chile

A Look At The Corporate Venturing Ecosystem In LatAm

State Street has named Aman Thind as its EVP and Global Chief Architect, a key move as the financial services firm eyes a greater presence in the cryptocurrency market.

Aman Thind

State Street Appoints Chief Architect to Build Crypto Capabilities

Verizon has named Jennifer Chronis as SVP of Verizon Public Sector, effective immediately.

Jennifer Chronis

Verizon Appoints New Public Sector Boss

Citadel has hired Dan Baranovsky, who previously led North American equity derivatives and cash trading at Citigroup, as a Portfolio Manager in its equity volatility operation.

Editorial credit: T. Schneider / Shutterstock.com

Citadel

Citi’s Equity Head Departs For Citadel

In a time when investors are flocking to digital assets like cryptocurrencies and NFTs, who are the alternative investment startups giving people the chance to invest in tangible assets like art, wine, and collectibles?

Editorial credit: Simlinger / Shutterstock.com

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The Startups Making High-Priced Wine, Art, Cars, and Collectables Part of Everyone's Portfolios

 Alex Carvalhal. Image credit: GreyOrange