Parag joins the illustrious league of Indians. Executives born in India who are leading global companies include Google's Sundar Pichai, Microsoft's Satya Nadella and Arvind Krishna of IBM.
New Delhi: IT Bombay alumnus and company's Chief Technology Officer Parag Agrawal will become the new Chief Executive Officer of Twitter Inc. The announcement was made on Monday (November 29). Twitter Inc CEO Jack Dorsey will step aside from his role.
"Parag has been behind every critical decision that helped turn this company around. He's curious, probing, rational, creative, demanding, self-aware, and humble. He leads with heart and soul…." wrote Dorsey in his letter congratulating Agrawal and explaining his reasons to step down.
"I want you all to know that this was my decision and I own it. It was a tough one for me, of course. I love this service and company…and all of you so much. I'm really sad… yet really happy," he further wrote.
Dorsey also said – "There aren't many companies that get to this level. And there aren't many founders that choose their company over their own ego. I know we'll prove this was the right move."
"Deep gratitude for Jack and our entire team, and so much excitement for the future," Agrawal, an IIT-Bombay alumnus, said in a tweet along with a note.
"The world is watching us right now, even more than they have before. Lots of people are going to have lots of different views and opinions about today's news. It is because they care about Twitter and our future, and it's a signal that the work we do here matters," Agrawal said in his note to Dorsey.
So far, India-born executives who have made names for themselves and are leading global companies include Google's Sundar Pichai, Microsoft's Satya Nadella and Arvind Krishna of IBM.
He joined Twitter 10 years back and has been its chief technology officer since October 2017.
Of course, it is well known that Twitter also made news in India, certainly for some wrong reasons, including the toolkit row. Delhi police named Twitter officials for defying the new social media rules to curb free rein and misuse of social platforms. On June 16, Twitter lost its legal protection in India from prosecution over users' posts due to its failure to comply with new digital rules.
The microblogging giant's India MD Manish Maheshwari was named in an FIR in Uttar Pradesh over an incorrect map of India. Twitter had shown Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as a separate country. Once Twitter showed Leh as a part of China.
In 2020, Twitter's annual revenue came to 3.72 billion U.S. dollars.
