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Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, is making headlines again for promising to clean up the workplace at Twitter, the social media platform that he recently entered a deal to acquire for $44 billion.
“I strong believe that all managers in a technical area must be technically excellent,” Musk stated on Twitter. “Managers in software must write great software or it’s like being a calvary captain who can’t ride a horse!”
Musk’s stated intent to revitalize the internal workings of the social media behemoth has stirred feelings of trepidation among Twitter employees who are wondering if their jobs are in jeopardy.
“If Twitter acquisition completes,” Musk added, “company will be super focused on hardcore software engineering, design, infosec & server hardware.”
Interestingly, Musk is reportedly set to serve as the interim CEO of Twitter if and when his purchase of the company is completed, according to sources at CNBC. RSBN previously reported that the current CEO, Parag Agrawal, will receive a $38.7 million payout if Musk takes his job, based on a clause in his contract with Twitter.
“Also,” Musk added in his comments, “work ethic expectations would be extreme, but much less than I demand of myself.”
In his statement following the deal, Musk cited the “tremendous potential” of Twitter. “I look forward to working with the company and the community of users to unlock it!”
Since then, Musk has used his Twitter profile to drop hints about his plans for the company. Last week, he added, “Twitter will always be free for casual users, but maybe a slight cost for commercial/government users.” He has also brought up ideas like eliminating spam and bots from the platform, authenticating human users, and allowing blue checkmark verification for everyday users.