Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey’s future as chairman has also been uncertain
Investors may have reason to worry about the dominance of Silicon Valley giants in the future.
Just days after news emerged that Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey was leaving the board of Starbucks, it is now rumoured he is set to step down from that of social media firm Twitter too.
The changes hint at the frustrations of these big US companies which struggle to gain control of their own destiny.
The suggestion that he is poised to leave both organisations is not surprising, given how open he has been in the past about his dissatisfaction with how Twitter is run.
‘Losing voice’
Earlier this year, Mr Dorsey called on fellow board members to make more changes to the company.
Despite all the company’s serious and popular efforts to improve its handling of abuse, harassment and other concerns – including new chief executive Alex Roetter stepping down a few months later – he said he had not seen “meaningful progress”.
“They’ve got to get a little more aggressive,” he said.
Then, earlier this month, he outlined his vision for a “totally different Twitter that allows us to organise our community and build our common purpose”.
“It’s about gaining the voice to actually see the power of Twitter,” he said in an interview with the Independent.
“My goal is for Twitter to have more impact and do more good than bad – but it’s still a long way to go.”
When asked if he planned to step down from Twitter’s board, he replied: “Well, sure I am. Why would you not let someone who has that vision and that vision for Twitter take it forward?”
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey is seen with Starbucks chairman Howard Schultz earlier this year
Missed opportunities
That update was part of a wider series of revelations about the privately held company that he co-founded.
Around the same time, the company reported weak second-quarter sales and revealed it was in the process of laying off up to 9% of its workforce (about 300 staff).
It was also criticised for its handling of the Hillary Clinton email controversy, which has been a drain on the company’s goodwill.
In response, Mr Dorsey said Twitter’s board was doing its job to give him the leadership “need to turn it around”.
“There are big things we’ve talked about and there are small things, too,” he said.
But it looks like his plans may have proved more difficult than even he thought.