Discord Co-Founder Jason Citron Steps Down as CEO Amid Management Shake-Up
In a major leadership transition, Jason Citron, co-founder of the popular social chat app Discord, announced on Wednesday that he will step down as chief executive. Humam Sakhnini, a seasoned veteran in the video game industry with 15 years of experience, will take over the role. Previously the vice chairman at gaming giant Activision, Sakhnini’s appointment comes as Discord prepares for a potential public offering, anticipated as early as this year.
Discord, valued at approximately $15 billion by private investors in 2021, boasts over 200 million users, predominantly among gamers. Citron, who co-founded the platform in 2015 with Stanislav Vishnevskiy as a tool for gamers to communicate, will remain on the company’s board and serve as an adviser to Sakhnini.
In a statement, Citron described himself as “more of a builder” and emphasized that hiring someone like Sakhnini aligns with Discord’s goals of advancing toward a successful public offering. Sakhnini played a key role at Activision during its acquisition by Microsoft for $69 billion in 2023 before leaving shortly thereafter.
Discord experienced significant growth during the pandemic, when gaming surged in popularity. In 2021, the company briefly considered a deal with Microsoft around a $10 billion valuation, though no agreement was reached. Citron has also been active in discussions around online safety, notably testifying before Congress regarding child safety issues on social media platforms.
While Discord primarily generates revenue from a premium subscription service, it has diversified its income streams through advertising and microtransactions within the app, as it continues to innovate and expand its offerings.
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