TikTok forms U.S. joint venture, names a CEO
The TikTok USDS (US Data Security) logo appears on a smartphone screen in this illustration photo taken in Reno, United States, on December 19, 2025.
Jaque Silva | Nurfoto | Getty Images
TikTok said Thursday it has formed a joint venture that will allow the video-sharing app to continue operating in the United States.
The short-format video company said Adam Presser will become CEO of the TikTok USDS Joint Venture, while TikTok CEO Shou Chew will become a director. Presser was previously TikTok’s head of operations, trust and security.
TikTok said the US-based joint venture will operate as an “independent entity”. announcement. The joint venture will be managed by a seven-member board of directors, the majority of whom are Americans.
The new entity’s board of directors includes Chew, TPG Global senior advisor Timothy Dattels, Susquehanna International Group Mark Dooley, Silver Lake co-CEO Egon Durban, DXC Technology CEO Raul Fernandez, Seer vice president Kenneth Glueck and MGX chief strategy and security officer David Scott.
TikTok’s parent company ByteDance will retain 19.9% of the newly created joint venture, the company said. Silver Lake, Oracle and MGX are the three managing investors in the new US joint venture. Other investors include Dell Technologies chairman Michael Dell’s investment firm, Vastmere Strategic Investments, Alpha Wave Partners, Revolution and General Atlantic subsidiary Via Nova.
ByteDance was subject to a national security law first signed by former President Joe Biden that required the Chinese tech giant to sell its US operations or be effectively banned in the country. However, this national security law never went into effect due to various executive orders signed by President Donald Trump throughout 2025.
Those executive orders prevented the attorney general from enforcing the national security law while the practice’s leaders sought a buyer.
TikTok’s new U.S.-based corporate structure also helps keep sister apps like CapCut, Lemon8 and other unspecified services and websites up and running in America, the company said.
According to CNBC, Chew announced the name of TikTok’s US subsidiary to employees in December and said that he had signed an agreement to establish a new US joint venture.
This news is developing, check back for updates.
WRISTWATCH: TikTok signs deal to form new US joint venture:
