Leadership shakeup at Discord: Jason Citron to step down as CEO, Humam Sakhnini named successor

On April 23, 2025, Discord announced that co-founder Jason Citron will step down as CEO, and Humam Sakhnini will succeed him on April 28. Citron will continue on the board of directors and serve as an advisor to the new chief executive.

The change arrives as Discord supports over 200 million monthly active users and around 870 employees, underscoring its scale and reach. Stanislav Vishnevskiy, Discord’s other co-founder, will remain Chief Technology Officer to maintain technical continuity.

This move follows reports that Discord is moving toward becoming a public company, hinting at steps toward an IPO. Employees received details in an internal message, and a “Passing the Torch” blog post provided further explanation.

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Jason Citron reflects on company origins and the evolving CEO role

In his “Passing the Torch” memo, Jason Citron described building Discord as “one of the most rewarding experiences of my life,” highlighting his investment in the platform’s growth. He explained that the CEO role evolves over time and that he has “continuously hired myself out of a job,” referring to his practice of delegating and tackling new challenges.

Jason Citron added that Discord now has “a clear strategy, new business lines to grow into, love and passion from our users,” and called it “by far the best version of the company we’ve ever had”. From this position of strength, he opted to transition to board member and advisor to support long-term success from a strategic vantage point.

Sakhnini brings gaming industry experience to guide future growth

Humam Sakhnini joins Discord as CEO after roles as vice chairman at Activision Blizzard and president of King, bringing experience with large-scale gaming businesses.

In his statement, he said:

“I look forward to working with Stan and Discord’s talented team to scale our business while staying true to the company’s core mission and the special connection it has with player communities”.

He also 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”.

Jason Citron highlighted Sakhnini’s track record of “substantially growing the King business in the public market,” a qualification relevant for Discord’s next phase.

Company looks toward possible public listing amid leadership transition

Reports confirm that Discord is moving toward “becoming a public company,” an objective Citron linked to Sakhnini’s appointment to lead that effort. Industry analysts view hiring an executive with public market experience as preparation for an IPO, suggesting that the company is laying the groundwork for future disclosure.

Jason Citron told GamesBeat that there were no immediate plans to announce an IPO but said that “hiring someone like Humam is a step in that direction,” indicating strategic alignment. Observers will watch for updates on Discord’s financial roadmap as the new leadership settles in.

Discord’s leadership transition marks a shift from its founding phase to a period focused on expansion and market readiness. Jason Citron will remain engaged as a board member and advisor while Sakhnini brings expertise in public markets to the CEO role. With CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy in place, the company retains continuity in its technical vision.

As Discord moves closer to an IPO, new leadership will guide decisions on scaling, product development, and community engagement. The change reflects an effort to align leadership roles with the company’s evolving needs without altering its core purpose of connecting communities.

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