Nov 8, 2022

President of global business solutions Blake Chandlee will handle her former duties as general manager of North America on an interim basis TikTok's overall headcount has risen over the past three months Wachiwit/iStock 1 min ago Which social media strategies are winning long-term loyalty and how can your brand build memorable and shoppable moments in the space? Virtual passes also available. Sign up today . TikTok is doing some shuffling in its upper ranks for North America, shifting general manager of North America, global business solutions Sandie Hawkins to head of ecommerce channel TikTok Shop in the U.S., with president of global business solutions Blake Chandlee handling Hawkins’ former duties on an interim basis. TikTok Shop debuted in the U.K. last year, enabling people to purchase products featured in live broadcasts and on-demand videos on the application, and it is now available in Southeast Asia, as well, with plans to expand it to Brazil, Ireland, North America (including the U.S.) and Spain over the next few months. Chandlee said in a note to TikTok employees Monday, “Sandie is a strong leader who has been instrumental in building out our U.S. operations, followed by the broader North America global business solutions organization over the past two-and-a-half years. Under her leadership, the team has become a significant player in the digital ads space, and we have built an amazing global business solutions organization that reflects our values. On a personal note, she has been a true partner to me and her regional peers, and she has always advocated for her team and clients, which has made us a better business.” Patrick McGee and Cristina Criddle of Financial Times reported that shifting Hawkins is part of an ongoing, broader restructuring over the past few months that has made fewer than 100 roles redundant, including roughly 20 senior managers, such as former global head of ads business systems David Ortiz, who said on LinkedIn in July that his role was “eliminated in a much larger reorganization effort.” A TikTok spokesperson said that while some teams have undergone restructuring, the company’s overall headcount has risen over the past three months. TikTok said a number of internal and external candidates are being considered as the permanent replacement for Hawkins, and McGee and Criddle reported that head of global business solutions, Asia-Pacific Sameer Singh is the favorite, adding that Singh is based in India and may have to wait until January for a work visa. Enjoying your content? You Have 1 Free Article Left. Register to continue reading!