Shou Zi Chew (born 1 January 1983) is a Singaporean business executive who has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of TikTok since 2021. Known for his background in international investment and his navigation of complex global regulatory landscapes, Chew has become one of the most visible figures in the technology industry, particularly regarding his management of the short-form video platform amidst geopolitical scrutiny. Born and raised in Singapore to parents who worked in the construction and bookkeeping industries, Chew’s early academic success led him to the Hwa Chong Institution. Following his graduation, he completed his mandatory National Service as an officer in the Singapore Armed Forces. Chew then moved to the United Kingdom, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from University College London (UCL) in 2006. He subsequently moved to the United States, earning a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Harvard Business School in 2010. During his time at Harvard, he completed a summer internship at Facebook, an experience that provided him with early exposure to the social media landscape. Chew’s professional career began in finance, where he worked as an investment banker at Goldman Sachs in London for two years. He later joined the venture capital firm DST Global, founded by Yuri Milner. As a partner at DST Global, Chew played a pivotal role in identifying and investing in emerging Chinese technology giants, including Alibaba, JD.com, and Xiaomi. It was during this period that he led a team of early investors in ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, in 2013, establishing a long-term professional relationship with the company's founders. In 2015, Chew joined Xiaomi as its chief financial officer, where he was instrumental in the company’s growth and its successful initial public offering on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. He later served as the president of Xiaomi’s international department, further solidifying his reputation as an executive adept at managing cross-border operations and international expansion. In March 2021, Chew joined ByteDance as its chief financial officer. Shortly thereafter, in May 2021, he was appointed CEO of TikTok, succeeding Kevin A. Mayer. Since assuming the role, Chew has overseen a period of massive global growth for the platform, which has surpassed one billion users. However, his tenure has been largely defined by navigating intensifying regulatory challenges and geopolitical tensions, particularly in the United States, where lawmakers have expressed concerns regarding data privacy, security, and the platform’s ownership by a Chinese-based company. Chew has been the primary public face of the company’s defensive efforts, including testifying before the United States Congress in 2023 and 2024 to address national security concerns and advocate for the company’s operational independence via initiatives such as "Project Texas." Chew maintains a private personal life, though he has occasionally shared details regarding his family. He is married to Vivian Kao, a Taiwanese-American businesswoman whom he met while they were both students at Harvard Business School. The couple resides in Singapore and has three children. Chew is known for being a strategic, analytical leader, and his career trajectory from a financial analyst to the helm of a globally influential social media platform is widely regarded as a significant case study in international tech leadership.