On June 3, 2021, Twitch CEO Emmett Shear announced he will be stepping down from the leadership role after seven years. Under Shear’s direction, the live streaming platform, now owned by Amazon, has become a household name amongst gamers and creators around the world.
Shear first joined Twitch in 2011, a few years after the website’s launch, and became CEO in 2014 — just a few months after Amazon acquired it. Since then, he has been credited with the growth and success of the platform, which boosted its user base from 1 million to 17 million throughout his tenure.
During Shear’s run as CEO, Twitch broadened its capabilities and became a thriving hub of entertainment, featuring everything from content creation to e-commerce capabilities. He was also instrumental in developing the Twitch Video Platform and Amazon’s Prime Gaming offering, both of which have become hugely popular.
The departure of Shear is especially notable since he was instrumental in aligning Twitch with other Amazon media and services; he further expanded its reach through additional partnerships with Warner Bros. and Disney Plus.
It’s unclear who will replace Shear, but the role will be significant. Twitch has grown to become one of the largest streaming services, and its success owes much to the vision and leadership of Shear. It will be interesting to see who takes his place and how they will shape the future of the platform.
In any case, Shear hinted at wanting to move on to “new opportunities” in his resignation message, so it’s likely that he will stay active in the gaming community despite stepping down from the CEO role. Likewise, Twitch fans and creators can look forward to seeing more of the CEO’s work in the future.
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