X’s Ad Chief Exits as Musk’s Executive Exodus Continues

Another Senior Leader Departs

John Nitti has exited his role as X’s advertising chief after just ten months on the job, according to Financial Times reports. His departure adds to what appears to be a growing pattern of executive turnover under Elon Musk‘s leadership, raising questions about stability within the company’s upper ranks.

Nitti had joined X as global head of revenue operations and advertising innovation, a position that sources indicated positioned him as a potential successor to former CEO Linda Yaccarino. His relatively brief tenure—spanning less than a year—mirrors the experience of other recent departures. X’s CFO Mahmoud Reza Banki left in October after similarly short service, while xAI’s financial and legal chiefs both exited over the summer months.

Management Tensions Surface

Behind the revolving door, sources suggest deeper organizational friction. Executives have reportedly grown frustrated with Musk’s tendency toward abrupt strategy shifts and unilateral decision-making. One telling example cited by insiders: Musk’s decision to ban hashtags from advertising without first consulting his own advertising team.

This management style appears to be creating particular challenges for the advertising division, which operates in an industry where predictability and client relationships matter tremendously. “When you’re dealing with major brands and agencies, they need consistency and clear communication,” one industry analyst noted. “Frequent strategy changes from the top make that nearly impossible.”

Broader Business Pressures

The advertising leadership faces additional pressure as Musk redirects billions toward AI development to compete with OpenAI and DeepMind. This substantial financial commitment comes even as X works to rebuild advertiser relationships following Musk’s controversial public statements, including his late 2023 suggestion that some brands should “go fuck themselves.”

While some major advertisers have cautiously returned to the platform, and xAI has secured partnerships with companies like Disney, others reportedly feel compelled to maintain advertising relationships for different reasons. Sources indicate that several brands are concerned about potential legal exposure after X sued companies including Shell and Pinterest over alleged advertising boycotts.

Nitti brought substantial industry experience to the role, having spent approximately nine years with Verizon and another extended period with American Express before joining X. His departure leaves another significant gap in X’s advertising leadership at a time when the platform continues to navigate complex brand relationships and evolving revenue strategies.

This latest executive exit underscores the ongoing turbulence within Musk’s companies as they balance ambitious technological goals with the practical demands of running established business operations. With multiple senior positions turning over in quick succession, industry watchers are questioning whether this pattern reflects broader challenges in stabilizing X’s leadership team during a period of significant transformation.