Is Shou Zi Chew Still the CEO of TikTok? What Really Happened

You’ve probably seen the headlines. For the last couple of years, it felt like every other week there was a new "breaking news" alert about TikTok being banned, sold, or restructured beyond recognition. Amidst all that chaos, one face became the center of the storm: Shou Zi Chew. But with the massive shift in TikTok’s US ownership and the ongoing regulatory roller coaster, a lot of people are scratching their heads wondering if he's actually still running the show.

Honestly, the short answer is yes. As of early 2026, Shou Zi Chew is still the CEO of TikTok.

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But "still the CEO" looks a lot different today than it did when he first took the job in 2021. He’s basically navigating a company that is splitting in two. While he remains the global head, the way TikTok operates in the United States has undergone a massive, legally mandated makeover.

The 2026 Reality: Shou's Role in a Divided House

If you haven't been following the corporate drama, here's the deal: TikTok recently finalized a massive agreement to form a US-based joint venture. This was the "breakthrough" deal signed in late December 2025 to avoid a total shutdown in America.

Basically, a group of American investors—led by big names like Oracle and Silver Lake—now owns a 45% stake in the US entity. ByteDance, the Chinese parent company, kept 20%, with the rest held by various global investors. This move was specifically designed to satisfy the US government's demands for domestic control over data and the algorithm.

So, where does that leave Shou? He still sits at the top of the global pyramid. He's the one sending out internal memos to staff—like the one he sent just before Christmas 2025—confirming the deal and reassuring the 170 million users in the US that the app isn't going anywhere. But inside the US, a new independent board now has massive oversight. It's a weird, complicated "dual" existence for a CEO.

Who is Shou Zi Chew, anyway?

Before we get into the weeds of the "Project Texas" fallout, it’s worth remembering who this guy is. He isn’t some random bureaucrat.

• Singaporean Roots: Born and raised in Singapore, which he famously (and repeatedly) reminded Congress during those viral hearings.
• Elite Education: He’s got the classic high-flier resume—University College London and then a Harvard MBA.
• The Facebook Connection: Kinda wild, but he actually interned at Facebook back in 2009 when it was still a relatively small startup.
• Financial Heavyweight: Before TikTok, he was the CFO at Xiaomi, where he led one of the biggest tech IPOs in history.

He took over TikTok in May 2021, replacing Kevin Mayer (an ex-Disney exec who lasted about as long as a summer vacation). Since then, Shou has become the "cool, calm, and collected" face of a company that everyone from the FCC to the White House has been trying to take down.

Why People Think He Left

It makes sense that you’d ask if he’s still there. The rumors usually spike whenever there’s an executive shakeup. And boy, has there been a lot of those lately.

In early 2025, several top-tier TikTok executives did actually jump ship. Blake Chandlee, who was a massive deal as the head of global business solutions, stepped down into an advisory role. Other regional general managers left during a period of layoffs and restructuring. When people see the "VP of This" and "Head of That" leaving, they naturally assume the CEO is next.

Plus, there was the "Project Texas" saga. For a long time, the plan was to move all US data to Oracle servers. When that wasn't enough to satisfy the 2024 legislation, the conversation shifted to a forced sale. Many industry analysts thought Shou might resign if ByteDance lost control of its "crown jewel" (the US market). Instead, he stayed and brokered a compromise that kept the app alive, even if the ownership structure looks like a messy jigsaw puzzle.

The Challenges Facing the CEO in 2026

Running TikTok in 2026 isn't just about viral dances and "Get Ready With Me" videos. It’s a geopolitical minefield. Shou has to answer to three very different groups of people every single day:

1. The US Joint Venture Board: They are laser-focused on "digital sovereignty." They want to make sure the algorithm is being retrained on US data so it doesn't have any perceived "foreign influence."
2. ByteDance Leadership: He still reports to Liang Rubo, the CEO of ByteDance. Even with the US spinoff, TikTok is still a ByteDance product globally.
3. The Global Market: Outside the US, TikTok is still booming. Shou spends a huge amount of time traveling between Singapore, London, and various international offices to keep the rest of the world from following the US's lead on restrictive regulations.

The "Algorithm" Problem

One of the biggest headaches Shou faces right now is the algorithm. Part of the new deal means the US joint venture has to "secure" the recommendation engine. Some experts worry this will make the "For You Page" (FYP) feel different—maybe less "mind-reading" and more like a standard social media feed. If the US version of TikTok starts to feel "boring," Shou is the one who will take the heat from users and creators.

Is He Actually Successful?

Depends on who you ask. If you look at the numbers, TikTok is still a juggernaut. It hit 170 million users in the US alone by 2025. From a business perspective, Shou navigated a literal existential threat and kept the lights on. That's a huge win in the corporate world.

On the other hand, the app is still banned in India, and it faces constant scrutiny in Europe over child safety and data privacy. The 2024/2025 "ban" threat in the US might have been averted with this new 2026 joint venture, but the price was giving up a massive chunk of control to American investors.

What’s Next for Shou and TikTok?

So, what does the future look like? For now, Shou Zi Chew isn't going anywhere. He’s the bridge between the old ByteDance-controlled TikTok and this new, fragmented version of the app.

The next big date on his calendar is January 22, 2026. That’s when the new ownership deal is officially set to close. Once the ink is dry, we’ll see if the "new" TikTok US can maintain the magic that made it famous, or if the corporate split creates a slower, less innovative platform.

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Actionable Insights for You:

• If you’re a creator: Don't panic. The app isn't closing. The ownership change is mostly "under the hood" stuff. However, keep an eye on your analytics in the coming months; if they really are retraining the algorithm for the US, your reach might fluctuate.
• If you’re a marketer: The "whiplash" is real. With Oracle and Silver Lake involved, expect more robust (and potentially more expensive) ad tools targeted at US audiences.
• If you’re a casual user: Your FYP might feel a little "off" for a bit as the transition happens. If you notice a change, it's not a glitch—it's the result of one of the most complex corporate restructurings in tech history.

Shou Zi Chew survived the "hot seat" of 2023 and 2024. Now, he just has to prove he can run a company that’s being pulled in two different directions at once.

Check your TikTok settings periodically to see if there are new "Data Security" or "Regional" disclosures. As the January 22nd deadline passes, the app's Terms of Service will likely update to reflect the new US joint venture ownership.