Elon Musk began on the lookout for a brand new Twitter CEO earlier than polling the location’s customers

That ballot that Elon Musk posted to Twitter Sunday night? Asking whether or not he ought to keep on as CEO of Twitter or appoint another person? The one the place he stated he would “abide by the results” irrespective of the way it turned out? The one the place practically 58 p.c of contributors stated, sure, please step down already?

It was in all probability largely meaningless. According to CNBC’s David Faber, whose reporting is fairly dependable on this type of stuff, Musk has been actively trying to find a alternative even earlier than posting the ballot. In reality, that search has been “ongoing,” Faber writes. How ongoing? Faber doesn’t say, however Musk hasn’t been precisely shy about describing his tenure at Twitter as solely momentary.

Earlier this 12 months, shortly after he made his preliminary bid for the corporate and earlier than he had second ideas and tried to get out of the deal, Musk reportedly disclosed to buyers that he solely anticipated to function Twitter’s CEO for a brief time period. (This was additionally based mostly on Faber’s reporting, for what it’s price.)

And extra just lately, he testified throughout a trial for a lawsuit difficult his pay package deal at Tesla that he didn’t actually like being the CEO of any firm, not to mention Twitter. “I frankly don’t want to be the CEO of any company,” he stated underneath oath. He went on to clarify why he chafes on the title of CEO at his numerous firms, noting that he doesn’t view his function as a standard chief government.

Of course, Musk is underneath growing strain from outstanding Tesla buyers to nominate a Twitter successor and re-devote himself to the electrical automobile firm that has been the first driver of his success. Tesla’s stock price has continued to plummet, whilst Musk has actively mentioned discovering a alternative, which suggests he and his buyers are in for extra ache down the highway.

Even so, Musk is probably going inclined to go on letting Twitter customers suppose they’ve had some say within the course of as a result of, essentially, he desires folks to love him. And convincing them that their voice issues in a company determination that was possible decided lengthy earlier than @ModelS3XYBoi or anybody else voted within the ballot is a part of that phantasm. It’s how he has run Tesla as nicely, responding to customers’ complaints and strategies on Twitter and turning them into actual options in his electrical autos.

So the ballot may be posturing, however the CEO search possible just isn’t. Because wow, it sounds prefer it’s going actually poorly! “No one wants the job who can actually keep Twitter alive,” he tweeted Sunday night, quickly after posting the ballot. “There is no successor.”