French billionaire Xavier Niel, founder of the French telecommunications group Iliad, has joined the board of directors of the Chinese company ByteDance, which owns the popular platform TikTok, in a surprising move. The news was reported by the video-focused site and Agence France-Presse on Monday, highlighting an unexpected development in the tech world.
In a statement, a TikTok spokesperson expressed excitement about Xavier Niel joining the board, noting that the company looks forward to benefiting from his advice and vision. The spokesperson added, “We are committed to enhancing the diversity of skills and experiences on our board to ensure the protection of the company’s interests and its shareholders.”
The ByteDance board is chaired by CEO and co-founder Roboh Liang and consists of five members, including American entrepreneurs Arthur Dantchek and William E. Ford, as well as Chinese businessman Neil Shen, according to the company’s website.
Xavier Niel will replace Philippe Laffon, founder of the investment fund Quatram Management, as reported by the specialized site Numerama.
As a board member, Niel will have a role in voting and making strategic decisions for ByteDance, which oversees the widely used TikTok app with over a billion users worldwide.
In the United States, where TikTok is used by at least 170 million people, including a significant number of teenagers and young adults, the app faces the potential threat of a ban due to national security concerns. TikTok is also facing a lawsuit from the U.S. Department of Justice accusing it of violating minor privacy protection laws.
