Meet TikTok’s latest U.S. CEO: Adam Presser, a Harvard graduate in business and law who has a passion for Chinese cinema

Adam Presser Steps Up as Leader of TikTok's U.S. Joint Venture

Adam Presser, a graduate of both Harvard and Yale, has been appointed to lead TikTok’s newly established U.S. joint venture. He aims to leverage this pivotal regulatory transition to secure the platform’s future in America.

Presser’s journey at TikTok began as chief of staff to CEO Shou Zi Chew from April 2022 to July 2023. He later advanced to oversee operations and eventually took on the role of head of operations and trust & safety, as detailed on his LinkedIn profile. Now based in Los Angeles, Presser faces the complex challenge of managing TikTok’s U.S. business amid intense political scrutiny, working to reassure lawmakers and maintain the platform’s user base.

TikTok did not provide an immediate response to Fortune when asked for comment.

Academic Background and Early Interests

Presser’s impressive academic path began at the Harvard-Westlake School, followed by undergraduate and master’s degrees in Chinese Language and East Asian Studies from Yale. During his time at Yale, he was awarded the Richard U. Light Fellowship, which enabled him to study in China.

His fascination with China was sparked by watching Chinese films during high school, as he shared in a 2023 alumni interview with the John Thomas Dye School. He described how, through cinema, he discovered that despite cultural and linguistic differences, the core themes in Chinese and Western movies are often quite similar.

Professional Experience and Global Perspective

After Yale, Presser earned both an MBA from Harvard Business School and a law degree from Harvard Law School. Early in his career, he utilized his Chinese language skills as a senior director at Ticketmaster in China. He later held executive positions at Warner Bros. Entertainment and WarnerMedia, where he oversaw business operations in China, Australia, and New Zealand.

Presser’s extensive international experience, particularly in China, is expected to benefit TikTok’s U.S. joint venture as it seeks to protect American user data while maintaining a global platform, according to a company announcement.

Structure of the U.S. TikTok Joint Venture

The newly formed TikTok USDS Joint Venture, announced on Thursday, will be primarily owned by American investors. ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company based in China, will retain a 19.9% stake to comply with the Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act, enacted by Congress in 2024. Major stakeholders include Oracle, Silver Lake, and Abu Dhabi’s MGX, each holding a 15% share, as outlined in the company’s statement.

Leadership and Governance

While CEO Shou Zi Chew will remain on the board of the U.S. joint venture, Presser will serve as the public face of the American business, especially as its governance comes under close examination. The board will also include representatives from Silver Lake, Oracle, MGX, and others.

Shawn Cole, president and co-founder of Cowen Partners Executive Search, told Fortune that Presser’s appointment signals stability and credibility. Cole described Presser as a seasoned insider with deep media experience, strong connections to TikTok’s leadership, and a thorough understanding of U.S. regulatory challenges, thanks to his previous trust and safety role.

Political Context and Future Outlook

The creation of TikTok’s U.S. entity follows years of pressure from American lawmakers and former President Donald Trump to reduce Chinese influence over the platform, citing concerns about data privacy and potential manipulation of public opinion.

Despite these changes, Cole believes that under Presser’s leadership, the U.S. joint venture will represent a continuation of TikTok’s existing operations rather than a complete overhaul. “The agreement is intended to address U.S. government worries, and Presser is well-positioned to communicate that assurance,” Cole added.

This article was originally published on Fortune.com.