Reddit’s first-ever chief product officer, Pali Bhat, is leaving the corporate in “the approaching months,” spokesperson Tim Rathschmidt confirmed to The Verge. Bhat, a former Google govt, joined Reddit in October 2021.
“His tenure was about as clear pre / put up check as we may run,” CEO Steve Huffman mentioned in an inside message concerning the change offered by Rathschmidt. “He developed a tradition of execution, constructed a gifted staff, raised the bar, and navigated a number of the most difficult and necessary moments in our historical past.”
The firm is actively searching for a brand new product chief, Rathschmidt mentioned. In the meantime, COO Jennifer Wong will oversee person development initiatives, CTO Chris Slowe will oversee engineering, and Huffman will “proceed to” drive Reddit’s long-term product imaginative and prescient. “We’re nonetheless targeted on increasing globally, constructing an incredible advert product, bettering search, and making the core product higher,” Rathschmidt mentioned.
Bhat has served as CPO as the corporate rolled out initiatives like options to make Reddit easier and an AI search device. His time additionally overlapped with the massive protests on the platform over API pricing that compelled well-liked apps like Apollo to close down – protests that Reddit finally crushed. Last month, Huffman mentioned in a protracted put up that the corporate is planning core product enhancements, updates to moderation instruments, and updates to look – let’s simply hope that the subsequent CPO additionally desires to maintain outdated Reddit round.
