TikTok‘s chief executive, Shou Zi Chew, gained widespread recognition in 2024 during his evidence before US lawmakers. Despite having led TikTok, a ByteDance subsidiary, since 2021, this appearance brought him into the public eye.
A notable clip from the session featured Singapore-born Mr Chew repeatedly clarifying his Singaporean nationality in response to pointed questioning from a US senator.
Other widely shared moments showed Mr Chew addressing concerns, assuring US media and lawmakers that TikTok did not pose a national security threat.
Before Mr Trump’s inauguration, Mr Chew posted a message on TikTok on January 18, thanking the new president for pausing the ban, which now has a 75-day reprieve.
“On behalf of TikTok and all our users across the country, I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to work with us to find a solution that keeps TikTok available in the United States,” he said in the video.
Mr Chew has faced backlash for openly praising Mr Trump and referring to him as “President Trump” before his official inauguration on January 20.
“Please don’t thank Trump,” one social media user commented, while another wrote, “You’re just as guilty as Musk. More so, because of your nice guy demeanour.”
As Mr Chew becomes one of the most recognisable figures among tech CEOs, many are curious about his journey. What’s his story and how did he become TikTok’s CEO?
Born and raised in Singapore in 1982, Mr Chew, 42, grew up as the son of a construction worker and a bookkeeper. He has often spoken about his modest upbringing, which took a pivotal turn at age 12 when his high marks in a national exam earned him a place at an elite Chinese-language school.
Fluent in Mandarin and English, Mr Chew served as an officer in Singapore’s armed forces during his mandatory military service — a highly prestigious role.
He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from University College London, graduating with first-class honours. He then pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Harvard Business School, one of the world’s most renowned institutions.
During his time at Harvard, Mr Chew interned at Facebook while it was still in its early start-up phase, gaining invaluable insight into the social media industry — a field he would later come to lead as TikTok’s CEO. His diverse experiences, spanning military leadership, elite education, and tech start-ups, have shaped his trajectory as one of the most influential figures in the tech world.
In 2010, Mr Chew began a five-year stint at DST Global, a venture capital firm helmed by the Russia-born Israeli billionaire Yuri Milner. He secured some of the most lucrative deals in Chinese internet history, including investments in the e-commerce platforms JD.com and Alibaba, and the ride-hailing service Didi.
In 2011, he helped lead the company’s $500 million (£407m) investment in Chinese smartphone giant Xiaomi.
He then worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs for two years and joined Xiaomi in 2015 as its chief financial officer and international business president. He shepherded it through its public listing in 2018.
Mr Chew moved to ByteDance in March 2021, becoming the first person to fill the role of CFO at the media giant.
He became TikTok CEO only two months later, following the sudden resignation of his predecessor, Kevin Mayer. This was amid the Trump administration’s initial efforts during his first term to compel the sale of TikTok’s US operations.
A father, a golf enthusiast, and a Kevin Hart fan
Nearly a year after taking the helm at TikTok, Mr Chew launched his account, @shou.time, in February. Despite his influential position, his profile has only amassed around 18,000 followers — a modest number by TikTok standards.
His account features a mix of relatable and aspirational content. He shares clips of attending football games, travelling, trying Nashville hot chicken, or boating on a lake, often paired with simple captions like “love the outdoors.” At the same time, he offers a glimpse into a more glamorous side of his life, such as attending the Super Bowl and NBA games, meeting celebrities like Bill Murray, and even attempting a dance with Ciara.
The father of two, married to investment firm CEO Vivian Kao, has publicly stated that he does not allow his children to use TikTok, deeming them “too young” for the platform.
Beyond his professional life, Mr Chew has shared his interests in interviews, revealing that he is a golfing enthusiast and a fan of comedian Kevin Hart.
