Twitter Replacing Head Of Product, Forms New Team To Work With Influencers And VIPs

More changes to Twitter could be afoot as the company is reportedly searching for a new head of product. Jeff Seibert, who assumed the position last September, has left the role, according to Recode, and senior engineering director Ed Ho has taken the helm on an interim basis.

“This year we’re focused on delivering on five product priorities — refining our core service, live-streaming video, creators, safety, and developers — as well as recruiting great talent,” Twitter told Recode in a statement. “We’ve successfully increased our shipping cadence on our core service and have asked some of our top leaders to take on key roles in the other priority areas.”

Seibert is Twitter’s fourth product lead since 2014 — which alludes to an internal struggle of sorts as the platform continues to launch updated features in a bid to turn around stalling user growth. The constant changes within the division have led many in the media to call the head of product position cursed

or jinxed. Seibert, who was CEO Jack Dorsey’s first major appointment, took over after Kevin Weil departed the company to head up product at Instagram.

In addition to the leadership shakeup, Twitter is reportedly adding a new division within its product team, according to Recode, that will work with VIP users and influencers. This new team will be led by Jeremy Rishel, who joined Twitter in 2013 when it acquired social TV analytics company Bluefin Labs.

As far as product updates, Twitter most recently said it would no longer count links and photos toward its 140 character limit — a decision that was applauded by many users. Right now, links take up 23 characters — though Twitter does automatically shorten all links — while adding photos (and videos) takes up 24 characters.