TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew recently gave a rare public interview at The New York Times’ DealBook conference. During the interview, he was asked about interference from the Chinese government and responded that he is “responsible for all the strategic decisions at TikTok”.
Shou Zi Chew is the CEO of TikTok, the popular short-form video platform. He was appointed to the role in November 2020, succeeding previous CEO Kevin Mayer. Chew has been with the company since its founding in 2016, and previously served as the company’s CFO.
Prior to joining TikTok, Chew held various executive positions at other tech companies, including Vice President of Finance at Google and Chief Financial Officer at Xiaomi. He also served as an advisor to several startups, including a Chinese ride-hailing company.
Chew is an alumnus of the University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. He also holds an MBA from Stanford University.
During his interview, Chew discussed the importance of TikTok’s independence from the Chinese government. He stated that the company has “no interest in taking instructions from the Chinese government” and that it is “committed to being a global platform”.
Chew also discussed the company’s plans for the future, which include expanding its presence in international markets and launching new products. He emphasized the importance of creating a safe and secure platform for users, as well as the need to remain compliant with local laws and regulations.
Shou Zi Chew is a tech industry veteran with a wealth of experience in finance and operations. His appointment as CEO of TikTok has been widely praised, and he is seen as a key figure in the company’s continued success.