Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 26, TikTok announced on Tuesday the appointment of Ziad Ojakli, formerly Boeing's government affairs chief, as head of public policy for the Americas. The move supports the company's efforts to finalize an agreement separating its U.S. operations from parent company ByteDance.

Teenagers pose for a photo while holding smartphones in front of a TikTok logo in this illustration taken September 11, 2025.

Ojakli, who previously led government relations at Ford Motor and SoftBank, will assume the role on December 1, according to a memo from TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew. The announcement coincides with the transition of current public policy head Michael Beckerman, who indicated in April his intention to step down and shift to a global advisory position. Beckerman played a prominent role in addressing prior regulatory challenges for the platform.

ByteDance is advancing a transaction to divest approximately 80% of its U.S. assets to a group of American and international investors. This arrangement addresses stipulations outlined in a 2024 statute concerning national security. In September, President Donald Trump issued an executive order establishing a deadline of late January for completing the separation.

Under the proposed structure, a consortium including Oracle and private equity firm Silver Lake would acquire about 50% ownership in the U.S. entity. Existing ByteDance shareholders would retain roughly 30%, with ByteDance itself holding less than 20% to align with regulatory guidelines.

The executive order specifies that the platform's algorithm will undergo retraining and ongoing oversight by the new entity's security partners, with operational management transferred to the joint venture.

The divestiture initiative has drawn scrutiny from lawmakers. In October, Representative John Moolenaar, chair of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, expressed reservations about a potential licensing arrangement for the algorithm. Democratic Senator Ed Markey raised inquiries regarding the transaction this week. Moolenaar indicated plans to convene leaders of the prospective U.S. TikTok organization for a congressional hearing next year.

These developments occur as TikTok navigates a structured process to ensure compliance with U.S. requirements while preserving service continuity for its domestic users. The leadership change at the policy level underscores the platform's focus on engaging with regulatory stakeholders during this transitional phase.

Ojakli's extensive background in corporate-government interactions positions him to guide advocacy efforts across the region. Chew highlighted his expertise in the memo, noting its value for advancing strategic objectives.

The overall framework aims to establish independent governance for U.S. activities, including content moderation and data handling, under the new ownership model. Investors and observers will monitor progress toward the January timeline, as the outcome could influence broader discussions on technology sector investments and operations.

This appointment reinforces TikTok's commitment to building robust policy frameworks in key markets amid evolving compliance landscapes.