Hootsuite founder Ryan Holmes is returning to the CEO role, stepping in as interim chief executive as the Vancouver-based social media company navigates a period of leadership change and public scrutiny.
Holmes announced the move today in a LinkedIn post, confirming he will replace outgoing CEO Irina Novoselsky, who shared in a separate post that it was her final day leading the company.
“I’m excited to share that I’m stepping in as CEO (interim) at Hootsuite,” Holmes wrote, pointing to the company’s momentum and the opportunity ahead as artificial intelligence reshapes the social media landscape.
Novoselsky, who led Hootsuite for more than three years, framed the transition as a natural moment of change.
“Today is my last day as CEO of Hootsuite,” she wrote, reflecting on her tenure and expressing confidence in the company’s future.
The leadership transition comes at a complex time for Hootsuite. Earlier this year, the company faced public backlash over its work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), including protests outside its Vancouver headquarters.
Critics have called on the company to sever ties with ICE, while Hootsuite has maintained that its work with government clients does not involve surveillance and is consistent with longstanding policies around responsible data use.
Holmes acknowledged Novoselsky’s leadership, highlighting progress in enterprise growth and the company’s evolving AI capabilities, and described the current moment as a turning point for both Hootsuite and the broader industry.
Founded in Vancouver in 2008, Hootsuite was one of Canada’s earliest global SaaS success stories, helping organizations manage social media through a unified dashboard and growing to serve millions of users worldwide.
Holmes led the company through its early growth years before stepping down in 2019. His return now comes as Hootsuite looks to reposition itself in an AI-driven era, while also managing reputational and strategic challenges closer to home.
With its founder back at the helm, the company enters its next phase balancing product innovation, market relevance, and increasing public scrutiny.
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