YouTube CEO, Susan Wojcicki, Stepping Down

YouTube’s CEO since 2014 and one of Google’s first employees, Susan Wojcicki, has announced that she is stepping down as the CEO of YouTube. In a personal YouTube blogpost, she has announced – “Today, after nearly 25 years here, I’ve decided to step back from my role as the head of YouTube and start a […]
Marie Aquino
February 17, 2023

YouTube’s CEO since 2014 and one of Google’s first employees, Susan Wojcicki, has announced that she is stepping down as the CEO of YouTube. In a personal YouTube blogpost, she has announced – “Today, after nearly 25 years here, I’ve decided to step back from my role as the head of YouTube and start a new chapter focused on my family, health, and personal projects I’m passionate about.”

In her 25 years at Google, she has worn many hats and have done so many things – managed marketing, co-created Google Image Search, led Google’s first Video and Book search, as well as early parts of AdSense’s creation, worked on the YouTube and DoubleClick acquisitions, served as SVP of Ads, and for the last nine years, the CEO of YouTube.

Despite stepping down, she will still be around and has agreed to take on an advisory role across Google and Alphabet.

She has also announced that Neal Mohan will be taking over as Senior Vice President and new head of YouTube. Mohan joined Google in 2007 when Google acquired Doubleclick. He became Senior Vice President of Display and Video Ads and in 2015, YouTube’s Chief Product Officer. He was instrumental in the launch of YouTube TV, YouTube Music and Premium, and YouTube Shorts.

The change comes as YouTube’s advertising revenue has fallen short for the second straight quarter, as competition with other platforms for viewing time has become more intense. More and more people are shifting to Tiktok and Facebook’s Reels which has also prompted YouTube to release its short-form video format – YouTube Shorts.

With the change of leadership, will YouTube regain its stronghold amidst its competitors’ rising popularity? Let’s see what Mohan has in store for the video platform.