Bluesky CEO Jay Graber Steps Down: Reasons Behind and What's Next for the Platform?

Jay Graber announced her decision to step down as chief executive officer of Bluesky on March 9, 2026, after leading the decentralized social media platform since 2021.

She will transition into the newly created position of chief innovation officer at the company and will be focusing on creating new things besides managing this role.

Credit: Marco Bello and Eva Marie for the Knight Foundation

Jay Graber's Tenure at Bluesky

Jay Graber began her involvement with Bluesky in 2019, when she set out to develop an open protocol for social media aimed at enabling a new generation of user-empowering applications.

The Bluesky app initially served as a reference client for this protocol, known as the AT Protocol. Under her leadership, the platform expanded to more than 40 million+ users.

In the past year alone, Bluesky assembled a dedicated team, broadened the AT Protocol ecosystem, and demonstrated that a values-driven social network could achieve substantial scale.

Reasons for Stepping Down

Jay Graber explained the move in the company's official blog post.

"As Bluesky matures, the company needs a seasoned operator focused on scaling and execution, while I return to what I do best: building new things," she wrote.

She described the experience of scaling the company as a unique learning process, during which she grew significantly as a leader and built what she called the best team of her career.

Jay Graber noted that individuals perform at their peak when their roles align with their passions and strengths, a principle she applied to her own situation.

She finds the most energy in exploring fresh ideas, realizing visions, and guiding others to recognize their capabilities.

Introduction of Interim CEO Toni Schneider

As part of the transition, Toni Schneider joined Bluesky as interim chief executive officer.

The company's board will conduct a search for a permanent replacement in the coming period.

Toni Schneider previously served as chief executive officer of Automattic, the parent company of WordPress.com, and currently holds a position as partner at True Ventures.

He has acted as an advisor to Bluesky and to Jay Graber personally for more than a year. Both Automattic and True Ventures count among Bluesky's investors and back the pursuit of a more open, user-driven internet.

Automattic has centered its operations on open-source software, contributing to a more participatory web.

Jay Graber highlighted Toni Schneider's role in advancing that mission at Automattic, along with his approach of leading through curiosity, long-term perspective, and comprehension of mission-driven company building.

Outlook on Decentralized Social Media

Jay Graber expressed anticipation for her new role.

"I'm excited to dig into the next frontier of what decentralized social can be, while bringing Toni in to support our team as an experienced operator and leader," she stated.

She viewed the accomplishments to date as the starting point for Bluesky's development.