Bluesky Names Toni Schneider Interim CEO as Jay Graber Shifts Role

Bluesky, the decentralized social network built on the AT Protocol, is going through a leadership shuffle. Jay Graber, who became Bluesky’s first CEO when the project spun out from Twitter research in 2021, is stepping out of the CEO role and transitioning to Chief Innovation Officer, the company said.

The interim CEO spot will be filled by Toni Schneider, a veteran venture capitalist and former CEO of Automattic, who has previously advised Bluesky. Schneider will lead the company while a search for a permanent CEO takes place. Graber’s new position is described as focused on building new product and platform work for Bluesky.

The move comes as Bluesky’s user base continues to grow: the network reportedly went from roughly 30 million users about a year ago to around 40 million users today. That growth has pushed the platform into a phase where product development and scaling take on new priorities, and the leadership change appears aimed at balancing long-term product innovation with operational needs.

Graber framed the change positively, noting Schneider’s alignment with Bluesky’s mission and his prior advisory role. The company has been positioning itself as an alternative, protocol-based social option, and expanding features and resilience likely factor into the leadership decision.

For users and observers, the shift signals Bluesky is maturing. An interim CEO with enterprise experience could steer the company through operational scaling while Graber concentrates on new initiatives. Bluesky’s choices over the coming months—on product roadmaps, moderation tools, and developer support—will shape how the platform competes in a crowded social landscape.