Bluesky CEO Jay Graber Steps Down

Jay Graber is stepping down as the CEO of Bluesky, transitioning to the role of chief innovation officer. The social media platform, which has grown to over 40 million users, announced that advisor Toni Schneider will take over as interim CEO.

Graber, who led Bluesky since its inception in 2021, cited the need for a seasoned operator focused on scaling and execution as the company matures. She expressed her enthusiasm for returning to building new technologies and exploring innovative ideas.

Schneider, former CEO of Automattic and partner at True Ventures, has been an investor and advisor to Bluesky for the past two years. Both Automattic and True Ventures are investors in the company. Schneider's experience with commercializing open-source technology positions him well to lead Bluesky through its next phase of growth.

Bluesky was initially a project within Twitter, founded by Jack Dorsey in 2019. It became an independent company in 2021 and has since seen significant growth, particularly after Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter, now known as X. The platform has faced challenges such as moderation issues and compliance with age assurance laws.

The board of Bluesky has begun a search for a permanent CEO. In the meantime, Schneider will focus on scaling the company and allowing third-party builders to thrive within its ecosystem.