The landscape of Discord is set to undergo a significant transformation as Jason Citron, the CEO and co-founder, announces his departure from the helm. In a heartfelt blog post, Citron revealed that Humam Sakhnini, the former chief strategy officer at Activision Blizzard’s Call of Duty, will take over the leadership role. This transition aligns with Discord’s strategic plans to eventually go public, a move that has been anticipated in recent discussions.
Leadership Transition
While Citron steps down from his executive position, he will continue to play an influential role within the company as a board member and advisor to the new CEO. Reflecting on his decade-long journey, Citron expressed, “Building Discord over the last decade has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. From the very beginning, our mission has been about bringing people together around games.”
He emphasized his confidence in Sakhnini’s capabilities, stating, “Passing the torch to Humam is the right evolution for Discord’s future. His deep gaming industry expertise and proven track record of scaling businesses while fostering genuine friendships through play and shared experiences positions us perfectly for our next phase of growth.” Citron believes this leadership change will not only enhance Discord’s momentum but also unlock new opportunities for its users, partners, and the broader gaming ecosystem.
Excitement for the Future
Sakhnini shared his enthusiasm about joining Discord during this pivotal moment, recognizing the platform’s integral role in the gaming community. “Discord stands as a massive, foundational part of the gaming ecosystem that millions of players, developers, and publishers rely on every day,” he remarked. He commended the remarkable achievements of Citron and co-founder Stan Vishnevskiy, highlighting the platform’s undeniable product-market fit that connects hundreds of millions around their shared interests.
Looking ahead, Sakhnini expressed his eagerness to collaborate with Vishnevskiy and the talented Discord team to scale the business while remaining true to its core mission. He noted, “We’re still at the beginning of gaming’s impact on entertainment and culture, and Discord is perfectly positioned to play a central role in that future.”
