Bluesky CEO Jay Graber Steps Down Amid Strategic Shift

Jay Graber, the CEO of Bluesky, has announced her decision to step down from her role as the company seeks to transition into a new phase of growth. Graber, who joined Bluesky in 2019 when it was still a research project within Twitter, became the company's first CEO in 2021 after it became an independent entity. Under her leadership, Bluesky evolved from a Twitter offshoot into a viable alternative to X, formerly known as Twitter.

In a statement, Graber explained that as Bluesky matures, it requires a seasoned operator to focus on scaling and execution, allowing her to return to her passion for building new things. She will remain with the company as the chief innovation officer, a role specifically created for her to focus on Bluesky's technology stack rather than its business operations.

Replacing Graber as the interim CEO is Toni Schneider, a partner at the venture capital firm True Ventures and former CEO of Automattic, the parent company of Wordpress. Schneider, who has been an adviser to Bluesky's leadership, expressed his intention to help the company become a leading open social app and a foundation for a new generation of user-owned networks. He plans to emphasize scaling and setting up Bluesky's next phase of growth.

The search for a permanent CEO is in its early stages, with Bluesky's board of directors, which includes notable figures like Jeremie Miller, Kinjal Shah, and Mike Masnick, overseeing the process. Graber will also have input on her successor. The board's composition reflects a strong focus on technology and open software, with former Twitter founder Jack Dorsey having left the board in 2024.

Bluesky has positioned itself as a progressive alternative to Elon Musk's X, gaining traction as some users sought new social networks due to X's ideological shifts. According to its 2025 Transparency Report, Bluesky's user base grew from 25 million to over 40 million. Despite this growth, the platform remains a niche offering compared to competitors like Meta's Threads, which boasts approximately 400 million users.

The company faces the challenge of expanding its user base while maintaining its core values. Bluesky aims to establish itself as a digital commons, but it must convince more individuals and institutions to adopt its platform. The transition in leadership marks a pivotal moment for Bluesky as it navigates these challenges and opportunities.