Discord CEO and co-founder Jason Citron steps down
Discord CEO and co-founder Jason Citron has announced his decision to step down from his leadership role at the popular chat application. He will be succeeded by Humam Sakhnini, a former executive from gaming giant Activision Blizzard. Citron will remain actively involved with the company, continuing to serve on Discord’s board of directors, while fellow co-founder Stanislav Vishnevskiy will maintain his position as the company’s chief technology officer.
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“From the very beginning, our mission has been about bringing people together around games,” Citron stated in an official announcement. “It’s a mission I’ve dedicated my career to, and I’m confident that passing the torch to Humam is the right evolution for Discord’s future.”
Initially conceived as a communication tool for gamers to connect before, during, and after gameplay, Discord has evolved significantly into a broader and more versatile social platform. The company now boasts “more than 200 million monthly active users worldwide,” indicating its widespread appeal beyond its original gaming-centric audience.
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Citron’s transition in leadership comes against an important financial backdrop. As reported by The New York Times in March, Discord has been engaging with investors to explore the possibility of taking the company public through an Initial Public Offering (IPO). Sakhnini brings valuable experience in leading a publicly traded company, having previously served as the President of King Digital – the highly successful creator of Candy Crush and other popular mobile games – following its acquisition by Activision Blizzard. Appointing a seasoned executive like Sakhnini could be a strategic move to guide Discord through the complexities of an IPO. When questioned by GamesBeat about the company’s IPO plans, Citron acknowledged the significance of Sakhnini’s appointment, stating, “As you can imagine, hiring someone like Humam is a step in that direction.”
Interestingly, just a few years prior, Discord was reportedly in acquisition talks with Microsoft, a move that seemed a natural synergy with the Xbox gaming ecosystem. However, the rumoured $10 billion deal ultimately did not materialize. Despite this, Discord integration has since been implemented on both Xbox and PlayStation platforms, highlighting its continued importance within the gaming landscape.
Crédito: Link de origem