The chief executive officer of Hootsuite has resigned following months of defending a contract with a contentious U.S. government department, paving the way for the company’s founder to return on an interim basis.
Irina Novoselsky’s exit and the return of Ryan Holmes were both publicly disclosed on Monday through separate LinkedIn posts, which did not address the recent backlash faced by the company.
Expressing his excitement, Holmes stated that he is delighted to be back at the helm. Novoselsky, on the other hand, expressed gratitude for leading Hootsuite and highlighted the successful restoration of the company’s profitability, signaling the need for a leadership transition.
Holmes established the Vancouver-based company in 2008, specializing in social media marketing tools, and led until 2019 when he stepped down. Reports from that time suggested his attempt to sell the business for $750 million was unsuccessful.
Novoselsky assumed leadership in 2023 amidst significant shifts in the social media landscape following Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter. Facing intensified competition and financial challenges, Hootsuite underwent multiple rounds of layoffs in recent years but began to recover by emphasizing artificial intelligence tools and other offerings following its acquisition of analytics firm Talkwalker in 2024.
Novoselsky’s tenure faced scrutiny following revelations three months ago that Hootsuite had been providing services to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) since August 2024. The DHS, overseeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has drawn criticism for its immigration enforcement actions and involvement in fatal incidents.
This revelation triggered protests outside Hootsuite’s headquarters, demanding contract cancellations and public apologies. Despite acknowledging the gravity of recent events, Novoselsky stood firm on retaining the contract and emphasized the company’s focus on advancing product development through AI and social media integration.
Holmes affirmed the company’s commitment to AI technology, aiming to enhance operational efficiency for customers and internally. He underscored the company’s foundation in enterprise business, data capabilities, and AI advancements, signaling a new phase focused on AI-driven innovation.
While Holmes’ long-term CEO aspirations and the future of the DHS contract remain uncertain, Hootsuite is poised to intensify its investment in AI technology under his leadership. The company refrained from addressing specific queries about the CEO transition and the contract with the DHS, emphasizing its current strong position and plans for business acceleration.
