TikTok has appointed longtime insider Adam Presser as the chief executive of its newly created US business, a move aimed at navigating national security concerns while maintaining operational continuity. Presser brings deep entertainment industry connections, experience working in China, and close ties to TikTok’s global leadership under ByteDance.
TikTok has chosen a senior internal executive to lead its newly formed US entity, appointing Adam Presser as chief executive of TikTok US Data Security Joint Venture LLC. The unit was spun out from parent company ByteDance Ltd. as part of efforts to avoid a US ban tied to national security concerns.
Presser has long served as a close aide to TikTok’s global CEO Shou Chew and is seen internally as one of the most influential US-based leaders at the company.
The role places Presser at the helm of a social media platform valued at at least $14 billion, used by more than half of the US population. TikTok holds enormous cultural and political influence in the country.
President Donald Trump has credited TikTok with helping him regain the White House in 2024, highlighting the app’s growing political relevance.
While relatively unknown in traditional tech circles, Presser has been near the top of TikTok’s leadership for years. He has been viewed internally as a natural successor for a top role and is widely seen as a US-based extension of Chew.
Presser reports directly to Chew, who in turn reports to ByteDance co-founder and CEO Liang Rubo, according to people familiar with the company.
Presser attended Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, one of the city’s most prestigious institutions. He later earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Yale University, studying Chinese languages and literatures and East Asian studies, before attending Harvard Business School and Harvard Law School, according to LinkedIn.
Presser worked at Ticketmaster Entertainment Inc. in China before spending over five years at WarnerMedia, where he eventually became executive vice president of international operations, including China.
Presser joined TikTok in 2022 as chief of staff to the CEO and became head of operations the following year. His responsibilities expanded rapidly, particularly in working with content creators and operational strategy.
In March 2024, he added trust and safety oversight to his portfolio — a critical function as Congress passed legislation requiring TikTok to sever US ties with ByteDance or face a ban.
Presser took over as general manager of TikTok US Data Security (USDS) while deal negotiations were ongoing, signaling his eventual elevation to CEO of the new joint venture.
The US entity is responsible for:
Protecting US user data
Moderating content
Securing TikTok’s recommendation algorithm, which will be leased from ByteDance and retrained using American user data
Presser has played a central role in addressing TikTok’s content moderation challenges. In 2023, when high-profile influencers and celebrities confronted TikTok over antisemitism concerns, Presser led the discussions.
“We can do better,” he told them at the time.
Although Presser has no formal political background, his new role is likely to place him closer to President Trump’s administration. The White House has overseen the TikTok deal process, repeatedly delaying a potential ban.
Trump praised the deal publicly, writing on Truth Social:
“I am so happy to have helped in saving TikTok!”
“It will now be owned by a group of Great American Patriots and Investors, the Biggest in the World, and will be an important Voice.”
Trump also thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for supporting the agreement and added:
“I only hope that long into the future I will be remembered by those who use and love TikTok.”
While Presser will oversee US data security, content moderation, and business growth, ByteDance will retain control over TikTok’s advertising and e-commerce businesses in the US.
Presser will also be responsible for driving growth across other ByteDance-owned apps, including:
CapCut (AI-powered editing platform)
Lemon8 (social lifestyle app)
Shou Chew will continue as CEO of TikTok’s global business outside the US joint venture.
In a 2024 legal filing, Presser argued against separating TikTok US from ByteDance, stating that:
“a severance of the US TikTok platform from the rest of the globally integrated TikTok platform and business is not feasible.”
He warned that a US-only TikTok would become an isolated product:
“The US TikTok platform would become an ‘island’ where Americans would have an experience isolated from the rest of the global platform.”
Presser added that such a split would hurt advertisers, creators, and long-term financial sustainability.
TikTok did not respond to a request for comment regarding Presser’s appointment or the structure of the new US joint venture.