Shou Zi Chew

Shou Zi Chew is the Global CEO of TikTok/ByteDance, leading one of the world's most influential and contested social media and advertising platforms. He became a defining figure in the global AdTech and tech policy landscape when he testified before the US Congress in March 2023, defending TikTok against national-security concerns and divestiture demands — a moment that crystallized the geopolitical tensions surrounding data privacy, algorithmic advertising, and Chinese-owned digital platforms operating in Western markets. Under his leadership, TikTok has grown into a dominant force in performance and brand advertising, with its short-form video format reshaping how advertisers reach younger demographics globally. Before becoming CEO of TikTok in 2021, Chew served as CFO of ByteDance, TikTok's parent company, where he played a central role in the company's financial strategy and global expansion. Prior to ByteDance, he was CFO at Xiaomi, the Chinese consumer electronics giant, where he helped orchestrate the company's landmark IPO on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2018. His career also includes investment banking experience at Goldman Sachs, giving him a strong foundation in capital markets and deal-making that has informed his leadership through TikTok's complex regulatory and commercial challenges. Chew's significance in AdTech extends beyond platform operations. His stewardship of TikTok has forced the entire advertising industry to reckon with questions of data sovereignty, algorithmic transparency, and the viability of creator-economy monetization at scale. TikTok's advertising ecosystem — spanning in-feed ads, branded hashtag challenges, and its expanding e-commerce and shoppable video formats — has become a critical channel for global brands, and Chew has been instrumental in positioning the platform as a credible, brand-safe advertising environment despite intense political headwinds.

Last updated Sep 26, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment