Twitter Canada is unexpectedly searching for a new leader after managing director Rory Capern announced that he’s stepping down.
Capern made the announcement – how else? – in a tweet posted Wednesday morning, offering no reason for the move but saying that he was “grateful” for the opportunity and looking forward to whatever came next, without mentioning what that would be.
At press time, Capern’s LinkedIn page still listed him as managing director of Twitter Canada, and no other Twitter communications platform – not the company’s official Twitter page, not the Twitter blog, and not communications head Cam Gordon – mentioned the exit.
Grateful for the chance to lead @TwitterCanada, and so proud of the team there. Thanks to all my Tweeps 🌎. Looking forward to what's next. pic.twitter.com/IlxRfab6Gk
— Rory Capern (@rorycapern) August 23, 2017
Capern didn’t respond to a request for comment when contacted by the Canadian Press, though a Twitter Canada spokesperson confirmed he was no longer with the company when contacted by ITBusiness.ca. The spokesperson also confirmed that a search is already underway for a new managing director, noting that a job posting will be live in the next couple of weeks.
No other details, including any reason for Capern’s departure, were given, though the spokesperson said that no other changes were being made to the company.
Leanne Gibson, Twitter Canada’s head of agency development, will lead the office in the meantime, the spokesperson said. Gibson joined the company in January after six years with AOL Canada.
Capern had served as Twitter Canada’s managing director for just over a year and a half; he began in early 2016 after the social media icon spent nearly 18 months looking for a replacement for former director Kirstine Stewart, who was promoted to the company’s vice-president of North American media in September 2014 before leaving last year.
Prior to joining Twitter, Capern had served as head of partnerships at Google Canada.