TikTok
TikTok’s U.S. public policy chief, Michael Beckerman, is stepping down and moving into a global advisory role—because who wouldn’t want a change of scenery when Congress keeps trying to ban your app? Another 75-day deadline was issued as the trade war between China and the U.S. shifted Trump’s focus. Even so, ByteDance still refuses to divest the brand to the U.S., but AppLovin Corp has made a bid, and Amazon is prowling around, reportedly teaming up with the likes of Tim Stokely to submit a joint offer. Read More
Intel
Intel’s new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan, is trimming the fat and flattening the org chart. As part of a sweeping restructuring plan that could see more than 21,000 jobs cut—over 20% of the workforce—Tan is giving technical leaders a direct line to the top. Sachin Katti has been crowned Chief Technology and AI Officer, now steering everything from AI strategy to Intel Labs. It’s part AI moonshot, part corporate spring cleaning. Read More
a16z
Turpentine, Erik Torenberg’s media podcast network, has been acquired by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) and joins as a general partner. He’s known for co-founding On Deck, being an early employee at Product Hunt, and backing companies like Figma and Scale AI. Torenberg’s keeping the podcast—just with a16z potentially supplying both the guests and the ad reads. The direction could pivot fast—after all, a16z is now calling the shots. Read More
Pentagon
Dan Caldwell, a senior Pentagon adviser, was dismissed alongside ex-Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll amid a probe into leaked information at the DOD. Caldwell contends that his firing was politically motivated, citing his foreign policy views that oppose a potential U.S. attack on Iran as the main reason for his termination. The Marine Corps vet denies involvement in unauthorized disclosures and asserts that internal politics and personal vendettas influenced the degradation of their characters and abrupt dismissal. Read More
CBS News
Bill Owens has resigned as executive producer of “60 Minutes,” citing a loss of editorial independence. His departure follows tensions with CBS leadership and a $20 billion lawsuit from Donald Trump, which CBS News' parent company, Paramount Global, is looking to settle. The exit also comes as Paramount Global fights for the $8 billion merger to finally go through with Skydance Media. Read More
Zoom
After a yearlong vacancy, Zoom finally fills its top marketing seat with Kimberly Storin, a seasoned exec with stints at Dell, AMD, and IBM. She takes on the CMO role just as Zoom doubles down on AI and post-pandemic relevance. With the recent ‘Elusive Comet’ group exploiting Zoom’s remote control feature to target crypto users, Storin steps into a PR minefield. Read More
Mechanize
Famed AI researcher Tamay Besiroglu has launched Mechanize, a startup aiming to fully automate all human labor, beginning with white-collar jobs. The venture has sparked controversy due to its mission and Besiroglu’s association with Epoch, an AI research institute he founded, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest. Despite the backlash, Mechanize has secured backing from prominent investors, including Nat Friedman, Daniel Gross, and Jeff Dean. Read More
Ulta Beauty
Ulta Beauty has appointed Lauren Brindley as its new Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer. Wahl, who was most recently with Sephora, brings over two decades of experience in merchandising and digital strategy. The move signals Ulta’s focus on tightening its omnichannel playbook as competition in the beauty retail space intensifies. Read More
Spirit Airlines
It’s time for takeoff! Spirit Airlines ushers in a new era with Dave Davis at the helm. The experienced airline executive steps into the role of President and CEO, replacing Ted Christie after a rocky chapter marked by bankruptcy and a failed merger. With hopes of a smoother journey ahead, Davis is tasked with navigating the budget carrier toward stability and growth. Read More
Utz Brands
Utz Brands taps William J. Kelley Jr. as its new Chief Financial Officer. Kelley, who brings extensive experience in financial leadership, previously served as CFO for several publicly traded companies and is set to guide Utz through its next phase of growth. The appointment comes as the snack company focuses on enhancing its financial strategy and driving long-term value. Read More
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