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☆ Inside Twitter's first-ever company retreat: Jack Dorsey's parents posed for selfies, Elon Musk was a no-show, and employees meditated with the billionaire founder
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-15 | by ( Kurt Wagner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Jack Dorsey once led a Twitter company retreat to boost employee morale and set a vision for the company. Had Dorsey opened his eyes, he would have seen nearly all of Twitter's 3,500 employees facing him in their own noiseless trance. From the convention center floor where they all sat looking up at the stage, Dorsey was just a silhouette, like a statue of a skinny Buddha. It was July 31, 2018, the first day of #OneTeam, Twitter's first-ever company-wide retreat. "BATTLE FOR THE BIRD: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk, and the $44 Billion Fight for Twitter's Soul" by Kurt Wagner.

Persons: Jack Dorsey, Elon Musk, Kurt Wagner, —, Dorsey, Twitter's, Marcia, Louis, Jay Rock, Getty Dorsey, Twitter, Leslie Berland, She'd, coaxing Dorsey, unapproachable, wasn't, humanize Dorsey, Tim, Bruce Falck, Ned Segal, JP Maheu, Del Harvey, I'm, Elon, hadn't, Lucy Nicholson, Musk, Simon Organizations: Service, Moscone Center, Twitter, Employees, American Express, Trust, Safety, Simon & Schuster, Bloomberg Locations: San Francisco's, San Francisco, St, @Twitter

☆ Twitter gave Elon Musk the @e handle after becoming its biggest shareholder, book says — but he doesn't seem to use it
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-13 | by ( Beatrice Nolan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk was given the @e handle shortly after becoming Twitter's biggest shareholder, a new book says. Musk doesn't appear to have engaged with the account beyond changing the name to John Utah. NEW LOOK Sign up to get the inside scoop on today’s biggest stories in markets, tech, and business — delivered daily. AdvertisementTwitter's trust and safety head was asked to transfer ownership of the @e handle to Elon Musk in April 2022, according to a new book by Zoë Schiffer. Schiffer, managing editor of the tech newsletter Platformer, previously said in an X post that Musk had acquired the @e handle .

Persons: Elon Musk, Zoë, Yoel Roth, John Utah, —, Zoë Schiffer, Twitter's, Leslie Berland, Musk, Schiffer, Roth Organizations: Service, Elon, Twitter, Business

☆ Peloton shares drop 25% after posting wider than expected loss, falling sales
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-23 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Peloton on Wednesday reported a wider than expected loss and a quarterly drop in new subscribers that it blamed on its recall of its Bike seat post and seasonality, sending shares plunging about 25% in premarket trading. It ended the quarter with 3.08 million subscribers, up 4% year over year and in line with the company's expectations. But compared to last quarter, subscribers declined by 29,000. The former Netflix and Spotify executive has spent the last three months focusing on new strategies aimed at getting the fitness company back on a path to growth. Clients include Volvo, which has Peloton bikes in its company fitness center and offers employees access to the Peloton app, its all access membership and discounts on hardware, including the Bike, Bike+, Tread and Guide.

Persons: Barry McCarthy, McCarthy, Leslie Berland Organizations: Refinitiv, Consumers, Netflix, Spotify, Business, Volvo, Dropbox, University of Michigan, Big Locations: Dusseldorf, Germany

☆ Peloton aims to rebrand as a fitness company for all with focus on app, tiered subscription pricing
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | In Gabrielle-Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

The ad solidified Peloton's nascent identity as a high-end bike company reserved for a certain type of person at a certain income level. "This company historically has been thought of as an in-home bike company for fitness enthusiasts but over the years, it has evolved into something that is much more bigger, much broader than that." The relaunch includes a "Gym" function that allows users to take Peloton's app into the gym with them and create custom workouts. 2 among those who have Peloton hardware. It shows how eager users are to consume Peloton content that has nothing to do with its equipment.

☆ Peloton hires former Twitter executive Dalana Brand to be chief people officer
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( Gabrielle Fonrouge | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Peloton said Wednesday it hired former Twitter executive Dalana Brand to be its new chief people officer, as the fitness company continues its transformation and attempts to return to profitability. Dalana's addition is the culmination of that strategy, rounding out and completing the leadership team," McCarthy said. She follows behind Leslie Berland, the former chief marketing officer of Twitter, who took the same job at Peloton in mid-January. "I'm thrilled to join the team at Peloton as the company continues striving to make fitness accessible for all." While at Twitter, she led the company's global workforce and helped speed up its processes to make the workplace more inclusive.

☆ Twitter hit back at a private jet company suing it over an $197,000 unpaid bill, saying it was overcharged for 2 flights that weren't properly authorized
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-01 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Private Jet Services filed a lawsuit against Twitter over an unpaid bill of nearly $200,000 last December. On Tuesday, Twitter said that the jet company overcharged it and the flights were unauthorized. It also frequently referred in the documents to being billed $194,000 by Private Jet Services, but did not explain the discrepancy in figures. Twitter says that it believes the jet company breached this agreement over "designated representatives," and as such the lawsuit should be dismissed. Private Jet Services and Twitter did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Insider.

☆ Peloton Names Twitter’s Former Top Marketer as CMO
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Katie Deighton | ) www.wsj.com time to read: +2 min

Peloton Interactive Inc. named former Twitter Inc. marketer Leslie Berland as its chief marketing officer. Ms. Berland was previously chief marketing officer and head of people at Twitter, where she worked for nearly seven years. She departed the company last November along with a raft of other executives following Elon Musk ‘s takeover of the company. Ms. Berland is joining Peloton as the company attempts a comeback following a rocky 2022. Newsletter Sign-up WSJ | CMO Today CMO Today delivers the most important news of the day for media and marketing professionals.

☆ Peloton hires former Twitter executive as new head of marketing
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-17 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Peloton is bringing in Leslie Berland, Twitter's former marketing head, as its next chief marketing officer, effective Wednesday. Berland left Twitter in November amid a slew of executive departures after Elon Musk's takeover, which has led to significant restructuring and revenue drops at the social media giant. Berland will report to Peloton CEO Barry McCarthy and oversee several of the fitness equipment maker's divisions including marketing, membership and global communications. Peloton is trying to shift the tides after a rough 2022, when its stock dropped more than 75%. [Berland] and the marketing team will play a central role in broadening our reach, appeal, and impact," McCarthy said in a statement Tuesday.

☆ A private jet company is suing Elon Musk's Twitter, alleging it's trying to dodge a nearly $200,000 bill
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A private jet company sued Twitter, alleging breach of contract and failure to pay for two flights. The flights were "urgent" and authorized ahead of Elon Musk's takeover, the lawsuit said. The publication was the first to report on PJS' lawsuit against Twitter, which was filed in the US District Court of New Hampshire. The private jet company later sent Twitter a bill for the two flights in early November, but alleges Twitter never paid. PJS said Twitter breached its contract by refusing to pay "under circumstances that make it reasonable for PJS to expect payment."

Elon Musk seems determined to remake Twitter in his own image — with some help from the men in his trusted inner circle. They are joined in Musk’s orbit by Alex Spiro, a trial attorney with a roster of celebrity clients who reportedly led the first round of Twitter layoffs. Bloomberg reported Wednesday night that Twitter is preparing to eliminate about 3,700 jobs, or roughly half its workforce. Musk's personnel decisions suggest a possible road map for the future of Twitter, one in which policies and internal rules are drawn at least in part from the views of Musk’s consiglieres. Sacks, Calacanis, Spiro and Birchall did not immediately respond to questions about the company’s future and the nature of their roles there.

Chief People and Diversity Officer Dalana Brand announced on Tuesday in a LinkedIn post that she had resigned last week as well. General manager for core technologies Nick Caldwell confirmed his departure on Twitter, changing his profile bio to "former Twitter exec" by Monday night. Multiple employees who spoke with Reuters said they continue to receive little communication about the future of the company. An all-staff meeting that was scheduled for Wednesday was canceled, following the cancellation by Twitter of a check-in call last week. Use of the n-word has increased by nearly 500% on Twitter, said the Network Contagion Research Institute, which identifies "cyber-social threats."

☆ Twitter’s C-suite clears out as Musk cements power over the company
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Clare Duffy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

In less than a week since Musk acquired Twitter, the company’s C-suite appears to have almost entirely cleared out, through a mix of firings and resignations. Musk has also dissolved Twitter’s former board of directors. At the same time, Musk is also running several other companies, including as CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. Musk immediately fired four of Twitter’s top executives — CEO Parag Agrawal, CFO Ned Segal, General Counsel Sean Edgett and Policy Head Vijaya Gadde. It’s unclear whether VP of Operations Lindsey Iannucci, the other two members of Twitter’s top leadership team, will remain with the company.

☆ As chaos continues with Twitter under Musk, advertiser patience is starting to wear thin
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-02 | by ( Lindsay Rittenhouse | Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Advertisers weigh whether to pull ad spend from Twitter or stay. He plans to hold a virtual meeting with advertisers this Thursday but patience is wearing thin. But the Twitter team is in such disarray, attendees aren't clear who would be on the call to settle advertisers' nerves. A separate source said Meg Haley, Twitter VP of revenue product specialists, has been taking charge of conversations concerning advertiser partnerships in the interim. Some in the advertising community also question how committed Musk's Twitter will be to advertising in the long-term.

☆ Elon Musk has already cut a number of high-ranking Twitter managers, as employees await word on layoffs
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-01 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

As Elon Musk and his transition team at Twitter have compiled lists of which employees should be let go en masse, a trickle of cuts has begun, Twitter employees tell Insider. Another characterized the silence Twitter workers have been met with since Musk took over as "bullshit." Among them are Nick Caldwell, general manager of Twitter, who two employees told Insider was away from work dealing with the sudden death of his wife. At least two mid-managers in product and engineering were also let go late on Sunday and did not receive severance, the employees told Insider. Are you a Twitter employee or someone with insight to share?

☆ Twitter's Hunger Games: Elon Musk oversees a weekend of coding sprints, stack ranking, and boot-licking as some employees fight to keep their jobs.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Several Musk allies have been added to a company directory, with Musk being named CEO internally. Elon Musk put Twitter employees to the test this weekend to see who is capable, and willing, of surviving under his new reign. Musk has a 16 year old son, Saxon James Musk, whom he frequently mentions on Twitter, although the Twitter workers have yet to see any confirmation that James Musk is of any relation to their new owner. "This is it," one of the people familiar said, describing the feeling at the company under Musk. Many engineers were tasked over the weekend with "sprints," set periods of time for coding work to be done.

☆ Inside Elon Musk's first day at Twitter HQ. With one of his kids in tow, Musk was mobbed in a coffee shop and employees asked about his reported plan to cut 75% of the workforce.
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-27 | by ( Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Musk carried a sink into Twitter HQ in San Francisco, an attempt at a joke. "Entering Twitter HQ – let that sink in!" Musk tweeted alongside a video of him at the front desk of Twitter's office carrying a sink. Twitter employees have been on edge for months because of the looming threat of losing their job. Are you a Twitter employee or someone with insight to share?

New York CNN Business —Elon Musk plans to visit Twitter’s San Francisco office this week ahead of the expected close of his deal to buy the company, Twitter Chief Marketing Officer Leslie Berland told staff in an email Wednesday. For everyone else, this is just the beginning of many meetings and conversations with Elon.”Berland added that all Twitter (TWTR) employees will hear directly from Musk on Friday. Musk on Wednesday also changed his Twitter bio to “Chief Twit.”Musk is likely to face many questions from nervous employees when he addresses Twitter’s staff. The Washington Post last week reported that Musk told prospective investors in the deal that he planned to cut nearly 75% of the company’s staff, and that Twitter had already planned massive layoffs even if the deal did not go through. Musk had previously discussed dramatically reducing Twitter’s workforce in text messages with friends about the deal, which were revealed in court filings, and didn’t dismiss the potential for layoffs in a call with Twitter employees in June.

☆ Elon Musk posted a video of himself entering Twitter's headquarters carrying a bathroom sink
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Grace Kay | Kali Hays | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk shared a video of himself carrying a bathroom sink into Twitter's headquarters. Twitter staff were notified on Wednesday that the Tesla CEO would be in the office during the week. ET to close his $44 billion Twitter deal or face a trial. Musk captioned the video: "Entering Twitter HQ — let that sink in!" I'll be in the SF office shortly too, excited to see all of you!

☆ Elon Musk carried a sink into Twitter on Wednesday as deal nears close
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Elon Musk arrives at the In America: An Anthology of Fashion themed Met Gala at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, May 2, 2022. Musk has until 5 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday to complete his deal to buy Twitter or again face the proposition of going to trial. A Delaware Chancery Court judge set the Friday deadline after Musk said he would be willing to buy Twitter after all. The judge ended up postponing the original trial set for last week and gave the parties until the end of this week to close to deal, or else she would set new trial dates for November. WATCH: How Elon Musk's Twitter takeover plans shook Wall Street and social media

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