Linda Yaccarino pushed NBCUniversal to buy Twitter years ago: sources
Sources have revealed that Linda Yaccarino, an advertising executive, had her sights on struggling social network Twitter for almost a decade before being hired by Elon Musk as the new CEO. Although she only met Musk six months ago, Yaccarino quickly showed him her vision for the company and the two had multiple successful meetings discussing her ideas for Twitter. The official announcement via Musk’s viral tweet came after almost 24 hours of talks that cemented his decision. Yaccarino had previously pushed her former employer NBCUniversal to consider acquiring Twitter and had hosted three formal presentations with NBCU’s executive leadership team between 2014 and 2016 that outlined her ideas. Although the executives never took the next step towards completing an acquisition, it seems Yaccarino has finally found her place.
FAQs:
Who is Linda Yaccarino?
Linda Yaccarino is a 60-year-old advertising executive who was recently hired as Twitter’s new CEO by Elon Musk. She has a background in and extensive knowledge of the advertising industry.
How long has Yaccarino been interested in Twitter?
According to sources, Yaccarino has had her sights on Twitter for almost a decade. She has previously pushed for her former employer NBCUniversal to consider acquiring the social media platform and has given three presentations to NBCU’s executive leadership team outlining what a Twitter deal could look like.
When did Yaccarino and Musk first meet?
The pair first met around six months before Yaccarino’s official appointment as Twitter’s new CEO. Yaccarino quickly showed Musk her vision for what the company could be and the two had multiple successful meetings discussing her ideas for Twitter.
What is Yaccarino’s relationship with NBC?
Despite leaving her former role at NBCUniversal to join Twitter, Yaccarino reportedly wanted to exit on good terms with the company as they often do deals with Twitter. However, the news of her appointment reportedly caused some tension with NBC.
What will Yaccarino’s role at Twitter entail?
Yaccarino’s role as CEO of Twitter will involve getting major advertisers excited about the platform, leaning into other possible money makers such as subscriptions and commerce and implementing her vision to help revive the struggling social network.
Sources claim that Linda Yaccarino advocated for NBCUniversal to acquire Twitter years ago.
Elon Musk’s surprise announcement that Linda Yaccarino had been appointed as the new CEO of Twitter came after a last-minute courtship. However, sources have revealed that the ad guru has had her sights set on the social media platform for almost a decade. Yaccarino reportedly urged her former employer, NBCUniversal, to consider acquiring Twitter multiple times beginning in 2014, hosting three presentations outlining potential deals with the social media giant. She eventually met Musk just six months ago but quickly demonstrated her vision for what the struggling platform could achieve. Sources say that Yaccarino’s familiarity with Twitter and recent policy changes make her ideally suited for the role. The timing of the appointment proved awkward for NBC, with Yaccarino’s departure coming just before the annual “upfronts”, a crucial period when TV networks seek to win over advertisers. Despite controversy around her appointment, sources say that this is an excellent role for her skillset, and that she will excel in attracting new advertisers and seeking out other potential sources of revenue for Twitter.