ByteDance Appoints Lawyer Julie Gao as New Chief Financial Officer

TikTok-owner ByteDance has appointed Julie Gao from international law firm Skadden as its new chief financial officer (CFO), according to an internal memo sent by ByteDance chief executive Liang Rubo on Monday. Gao will be based in Hong Kong and Singapore once she joins ByteDance.

In November last year, ByteDance adjusted the organizational structure of the company. After TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew stepped down as CFO, the position was left vacant for five months.

Liang said in the letter that Gao has cooperated with ByteDance in acquisition and financing projects on numerous occasions since 2016. As a result, she is familiar with the company’s mission, culture, team and business. “Julie Gao has extensive experience and thinking on corporate governance and development, and has provided consultation to many companies at different stages. I believe she will bring immense value to the company in her new role,” Liang added.

Gao received a bachelor’s degree in law from Peking University, a master’s degree in sociology from the University of Alabama and a doctor’s degree in law from the University of California, Los Angeles. With more than 20 years of legal experience, she currently is a partner at Skadden and a member of Skadden’s Policy Committee.

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Gao has provided legal services for the listing and financing of more than 100 companies, including Meituan, JD.com, Pinduoduo, and Xiaomi. She also provides legal services for many mergers and acquisitions and private placement projects of Baidu and ByteDance. Gao has advised on ByteDance’s acquisitions of Musical.ly and Shanghai-based gaming studio Moonton, as well as several rounds of private equity financing valued at multiple billions of dollars in total.