Robert Kyncl will leave YouTube in early 2023 after more than 12 years as a top executive at the video giant. He most recently served as YouTube’s chief business officer, helping to grow it into a multi-billion dollar powerhouse.
Kyncl’s departure was announced in a memo Monday to YouTube staff from CEO Susan Wojcicki, a copy of which was obtained by Variety.
Kyncl is leaving “to begin the next chapter in his career,” Wojcicki wrote. “Under his leadership, YouTube forged new relationships and partnerships across music, traditional media and technology, and our ecosystem of creators — without him, the term ‘YouTuber’ wouldn’t be a household term.”
Kyncl’s successor as chief business officer on Oct. 3 will be Mary Ellen Coe, a 10-year Google veteran who most recently served as president of Google Customer Solutions, overseeing the Internet company’s global advertising business. for medium and small businesses. Before joining Google in 2012, Coe was a partner at McKinsey & Co. for 12 years advising consumer, media and technology companies. She serves on the board of Merck & Co. and was on the board of Whole Foods when the grocery chain was acquired by Amazon.
“I have had the privilege of working with Mary Ellen over the years, and she is a smart and effective leader who cares deeply about our users and her people,” Wojcicki wrote in the memo.
Kyncl, amid its successes in driving engagement and revenue on YouTube, has also had some misses. He led the creation of YouTube’s original content team, originally intended to form the basis of YouTube’s subscription service and become a rival to Netflix or Hulu. That didn’t work – and YouTube has destroyed most of its original entertainment projects. Before joining YouTube in 2010, Kyncl worked at Netflix for more than seven years, most recently serving as VP of content.
Read Wojcicki’s note to YouTube staff:
Hello to everyone,
After 12 years of building YouTube’s business organization into the powerhouse it is today, with a talented global team, millions of successful creators, and strong multi-industry partnerships, Robert has decided to leave YouTube in 2023 to begin the next chapter in his career. Under his leadership, YouTube forged new relationships and partnerships in music, traditional media and technology, and our ecosystem of creators—without him, the term “YouTuber” wouldn’t be a household term. Thanks to Robert and his leadership team, we are making a significant contribution to the media industry, paying out more than $30 billion to creators, artists and media companies in the past 3 years. We owe so much of our growth and impact to Robert’s leadership, and I want to celebrate his amazing contribution to YouTube.
The change gives us the opportunity to review where we are and where we need to go, and I’m very excited to share that we’ve hired a new Chief Business Officer, Mary Ellen Coe, to lead the business organization. Mary Ellen has spent the past 10 years with Google, most recently as President of Customer Solutions at GBO, serving millions of customers and thousands of partners worldwide. She has extensive experience working with small businesses and can bring that expertise to our work with creators, many of whom own small businesses. Prior to Google, she worked across consumer, media and technology for over a decade as a partner with McKinsey & Company. I have had the privilege of working with Mary Ellen over the years and she is a smart and effective leader who cares deeply about our users, partners and her people. She will start on October 3rd and Christina, Gautam, Lyor, Pedro, Tara and our recently hired VP of Product Partnerships, Miguel, will report to her.
Given the complexity of our business, I appreciate that Robert will stay on to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and to complete key projects in music and product partnerships.
I want to thank Robert for his dedication to YouTube all these years. He is exceptional at what he does and I am so grateful for the many years we have been able to work together. I will miss his honesty, authenticity and humor.
And please join me in welcoming Mary Ellen to YouTube.
Thank you,
Susan