Toni Schneider, previously interim CEO of Bluesky, has been named the permanent chief executive following a four-month interim period. Schneider's elevation follows Jay Graber's transition from CEO to chief innovation officer in March.
Leadership Transition
Schneider, a founding CEO of Automattic, took over as interim CEO when Graber stepped down. Now confirmed as the permanent CEO, Schneider expressed enthusiasm in a blog post, stating, "I'm loving the mission and the job, and I'm all in as Bluesky's official CEO."
New Initiatives
Under Schneider's leadership, Bluesky plans to focus on creating smaller, more private communities to drive growth and innovation. Schneider emphasized the potential of these initiatives to unlock a new wave of development for the platform.
Investment and Origins
Bluesky, originally a spin-off from Twitter, attracted users seeking an alternative to Elon Musk's rebranded "X" platform. Automattic and True Ventures, where Schneider is a partner, are key investors in Bluesky.
Challenges Ahead
Despite its previous growth to 43 million users under Graber and the expansion of its AT Protocol, Bluesky has struggled with user retention. The platform experienced a surge after Donald Trump's re-election, but engagement has since waned. Schneider acknowledges these challenges but remains optimistic, writing, "We're at the very beginning of this story."
Source: https://techcrunch.com/2026/07/10/blueskys-interim-ceo-toni-schneider-drops-the-interim/
