TikTok CEO Kevin Mayer has decided to step down barely three months after taking charge of the post, CNBC reported, citing his letter to employees. Mayer will be replaced by US General Manager Vanessa Pappas on an interim basis.

“In recent weeks, as the political environment has sharply changed, I have done significant reflection on what the corporate structural changes will require, and what it means for the global role I signed up for. Against this backdrop, and as we expect to reach a resolution very soon, it is with a heavy heart that I wanted to let you all know that I have decided to leave the company,” Mayer said in the letter, as mentioned by CNBC.

The development comes even as the Trump administration is forcing the company to sell its US arm citing a threat to national security. As per earlier reports, Microsoft and Oracle are already in talks to buy the business from ByteDance, TikTok's parent.

Mayer was Walt Disney Co's top streaming executive before he joined TikTok on June 1. He was also appointed as chief operating officer of TikTok's Chinese parent, ByteDance at the time.

ByteDance's founder and CEO Zhang Yiming said in a separate letter that the company was "moving quickly to find resolutions to the issues that we face globally, particularly in the US and India."

He said Mayer had joined the firm just as it was "entering arguably our most challenging moment."

"It is never easy to come into a leadership position in a company moving as quickly as we are, and the circumstances following his arrival made it all the more complex," Zhang said.

TikTok was among the 59 Chinese apps that the Indian government banned in June citing security and privacy concerns.

The information technology ministry said that the decision was taken "in view of the information available they are engaged in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order."

(With inputs from Reuters)

First Published:Aug 27, 2020 10:23 AM IST