Nick Pickles, the head of global affairs at X, formerly Twitter, has announced his departure from the company after a decade of service. Pickles, a key figure in X’s leadership and a close associate of CEO Linda Yaccarino, shared his decision on Thursday via a post on X. Expressing gratitude to his colleagues and the CEO for their support, Pickles hinted at taking a break before embarking on a new challenge. He stated, “I made the decision to leave several months ago and I’m grateful to Linda Yaccarino for her support and partnership as we’ve worked through the transition.”
Pickles’ departure comes at a critical juncture for X, which is facing several challenges. Earlier this year, the company was hit with a regulatory setback in Brazil, where a Supreme Court justice ordered an immediate halt to X’s operations in the country. Additionally, X is grappling with a potential 26% decline in ad revenue by 2025, according to analytics group Kantar. This decline is primarily attributed to concerns surrounding the platform’s association with contentious content. To further complicate matters, X is reportedly closing its San Francisco headquarters on September 13th.
Pickles’ exit follows a period of significant changes at X. Earlier this year, he was promoted to the vice-president of global affairs position, effectively becoming Yaccarino’s right-hand man. His departure, along with the recent firing of Joe Benarroch in June, signals a period of flux within the company’s leadership structure.
Despite these challenges, Yaccarino has been under pressure to revitalize the company’s struggling business. Pickles was reportedly one of the most influential figures from the old Twitter and played a key role in policy work at X. His departure marks a significant loss for the company, especially as it navigates these turbulent waters.
