TikTok hires former Disney CCO Zenia Mucha

LOS ANGELES — As TikTok faces the possibility of a US ban, former Disney CCO Zenia Mucha, who was renowned for her combative demeanour in defending the illustrious brand, has joined the company as its head of communications.

Mucha's hiring as TikTok's chief brand and communications officer is a part of a bigger leadership reorganisation that also saw COO Vanessa Pappas step down earlier this week and chief of staff Adam Presser promoted to head of operations.

Mucha is no stranger to TikTok or the criticism the app is under. She is well recognised for using her influence at Disney to extend beyond communications. She was reportedly a member of a group of consultants who prepared TikTok's CEO for a congressional appearance, according to a Wall Street Journal report from March.

Safety worries about TikTok, particularly if it shares sensitive data with the Chinese government, have been a major source of motivation for campaigns to outlaw the network in the US and other countries. Federal devices in the US are not allowed to use the app. The same is true, among others, in the UK, Canada, France, and Australia.

After nearly 20 years with the company, Mucha left her position as CCO and head of corporate communications at the end of 2021. She was one of a number of senior executives who departed Disney along with executive chairman Bob Iger, who has since been reinstated as CEO.