Bluesky's CEO Steps Down, New Chief Innovation Officer Announced

Bluesky, the decentralized social network spun out from Twitter, is undergoing a leadership change. Jay Graber, who has served as the network's first CEO since 2021, is stepping down from that role. In her place, venture capitalist and former Automattic CEO Toni Schneider will take over as interim CEO while a permanent replacement is found.

According to Graber, Schneider "believes deeply in the Bluesky mission, and [she] is excited to work with him to steer the company through this next chapter." While Graber is relinquishing the CEO title, she will remain with Bluesky in a new role as Chief Innovation Officer, where she will focus on building new features and functionalities for the growing platform.

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Bluesky has seen impressive growth over the past year, expanding from 30 million users to 40 million currently. As Chief Innovation Officer, Graber will be tasked with developing new innovations to continue that trajectory and cement Bluesky's position as a leading decentralized social network.

"I'm incredibly proud of what we've built at Bluesky and I'm excited to transition into a role where I can focus solely on innovation and product development," Graber said in a blog post announcing the changes. "Toni is the right person to lead Bluesky through this next phase of growth and I look forward to partnering with him in my new role."

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The shift in leadership comes at a critical time for Bluesky, which is working to establish itself as a viable alternative to centralized social media platforms. With Graber's focus on innovation and Schneider's experience in growing tech companies, the network will be well-positioned to continue expanding its user base and rolling out new features to enhance the decentralized social experience.

"I'm honored to step in as interim CEO and help guide Bluesky through this important transition," said Schneider. "Jay has built an incredible foundation, and I'm excited to work with her and the talented Bluesky team to build upon that success."

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The changes at the top of Bluesky underscore the network's commitment to innovation and growth, as it continues to challenge the dominance of traditional social media platforms. With Graber's shift to Chief Innovation Officer and Schneider's interim leadership, the company is poised to make significant strides in the decentralized social landscape.