Musk’s ad chief at X departs after just 10 months

John Nitti's departure as the advertising chief at X has been confirmed after just a short stint of ten months, according to reports from the Financial Times. Nitti, who was brought on board as the global head of revenue operations and advertising innovation, was seen as a potential successor to former CEO Linda Yaccarino, who stepped down in July. His exit marks a significant moment in a series of high-profile resignations from Elon Musk’s executive team, raising questions about the stability within the organization. Notably, X’s CFO Mahmoud Reza Banki also left in October after a brief tenure, while both the CFO and general counsel of xAI departed during the summer months. Sources indicate that these departures may be indicative of underlying tensions among executives, particularly relating to Musk's unpredictable strategic changes and his tendency to make unilateral decisions. An example of this is the recent ban on hashtags from advertising, implemented without prior consultation with the advertising team. The pressure on the advertising division has intensified as Musk invests heavily in AI development to rival companies like OpenAI and DeepMind. Although some brands have returned to the platform following Musk's controversial remarks in late 2023, others express concerns about feeling coerced into advertising, especially after X took legal action against firms like Shell and Pinterest for alleged boycotts. Before his role at X, Nitti accumulated nearly nine years of experience with Verizon and had a lengthy career with American Express.