Who’s Shou Zi Chew, the TikTok CEO testifying earlier than Congress?
Shou Zi Chew — the TikTok CEO who was grilled on Capitol Hill as US lawmakers from each events push for a potential nationwide ban of the popular video-sharing app — has proven he can face the warmth as a Singapore Military veteran and Harvard enterprise faculty graduate.
Requires a TikTok ban have escalated in latest days resulting from issues the app, owned by Beijing-based mum or dad firm ByteDance, poses a threat to nationwide safety.
Critics are additionally involved about TikTok’s content material moderation practices and potential hurt to underage customers on the platform.
TikTok’s reputation has difficult the scenario. The app has greater than 150 million customers within the US alone and has quickly emerged as a serious rival to extra established social media platforms equivalent to Fb and Snapchat.
Who’s TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew?
Chew, 40, was born in Singapore in 1983. He attended an elite highschool and accomplished necessary navy service within the nation earlier than attending College Faculty London, the place he earned a bachelor’s diploma in economics. He’s nonetheless a reservist within the Singaporean military.
Chew is married to funding agency govt Vivian Kao, whom he met at Harvard College. The couple has two kids.
Chew began his stint at ByteDance as the corporate’s CFO in March 2021. He was appointed CEO of TikTok later that yr and changed former Disney govt Kevin Mayer, who resigned from the publish simply three months after he took the job.
The place did Chew work previous to TikTok?
After a stint serving in Singapore’s navy, Chew joined on as an funding banker for Goldman Sachs in London. Chew finally obtained an MBA from Harvard College and labored as an intern at Fb.
Later, Chew joined the enterprise capital agency DST International, the place his fluency in Mandarin allowed him to develop into its “China-focused accomplice,” in accordance to the Wall Street Journal.
Throughout his tenure on the agency, Chew led a gaggle that have been among the many earliest buyers in ByteDance in 2013.
Chew additionally labored at Chinese language smartphone maker Xiaomi, the place he held the title of CFO and different roles, earlier than becoming a member of TikTok mum or dad ByteDance.
Why did Chew testify earlier than US Congress?
The Home Power and Commerce Committee known as on Chew to testify about TikTok’s “shopper privateness and information safety practices, the platforms’ affect on youngsters, and their relationship with the Chinese language Communist Occasion.”
The March 23 listening to marked the first time that Chew has publicly appeared on Capitol Hill to handle issues in regards to the app.
Lawmakers from each events have known as for a ban on TikTok, arguing it permits China to eavesdrop on People and places US person information in danger.
How a lot is Chew value?
Chew’s web value just isn’t publicly recognized. Throughout his look on Capitol Hill on Thursday, March 23, Chew acknowledged that he obtained a wage from privately held TikTok and in addition participated in ByteDance’s stock-based compensation plan.
Who owns TikTok?
TikTok is owned by Beijing-based ByteDance. The corporate says that 60% of its shares are owned by world buyers, whereas 20% are held by founders and 20% by workers.