Jay Graber, who has guided the emerging social network Bluesky as its leader since 2021, is leaving her position as chief executive. Toni Schneider, a long-time advisor and backer of the company, will assume interim leadership duties, with Graber transitioning to the role of Chief Innovation Officer.
In a company blog entry, Graber explained that as Bluesky advances, it requires an expert in growth and implementation, allowing her to focus on innovation and development. Schneider, former head of Automattic—the organization behind WordPress—will serve as that capable executive and guide during the board's hunt for a lasting replacement.
Graber's involvement with Bluesky began in its initial phase as a Twitter initiative under Jack Dorsey. She took on the CEO title in 2021 when the project became a standalone entity, fully severing links with Twitter in 2022 and seeing Dorsey end his involvement in 2024. Under her direction, Bluesky moved from exclusive access to a platform with 43 million active users, achieving notable popularity after its debut. She has gained recognition for promoting decentralized networking options and for playfully criticizing Mark Zuckerberg's casual attire.
Approaching three years after opening to the public, Bluesky has established a modest yet significant presence amid the evolving alternatives to Twitter. It remains considerably smaller than Meta's Threads, operating at under one-third its scale, even as Threads has adopted certain distinctive Bluesky elements. The service has not introduced substantial revenue-generating tools, despite earlier hints at a paid membership option.
In her new capacity as Chief Innovation Officer, Graber is expected to maintain considerable influence within Bluesky. As noted by Wired, her continued board membership ensures she can contribute to selecting the next permanent leader. For now, Schneider, a partner at venture capital outfit True Ventures, will steer the organization. In a Bluesky update, Schneider expressed strong support for the group's achievements and their commitment to an accessible social internet.