Musk joins Twitter's board of directors, promises significant improvements

In a significant development, Indian-origin Twitter CEO Parag Agrawal on Tuesday announced that the micro-blogging platform has appointed Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk to its board of directors.

Musk, who acquired 9.2 per cent share in the micro-blogging platform for nearly $3 billion, is limited from buying more than 15 per cent of Twitter's stock.

"I'm excited to share that we're appointing @elonmusk to our board! Through conversations with Elon in recent weeks, it became clear to us that he would bring great value to our Board," Agrawal posted.

Musk replied to Agrawal: "Looking forward to working with Parag & Twitter board to make significant improvements to Twitter in coming months!"

According to a fresh filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Musk will serve as a class II director until 2024.

This is a type of position that can be used as an anti-takeover measure.

"The Company will appoint Mr. Musk to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board") to serve as a Class II director with a term expiring at the Company's 2024 Annual Meeting of Stockholders," the filing read.

"For so long as Mr. Musk is serving on the Board and for 90 days thereafter, Mr. Musk will not, either alone or as a member of a group, become the beneficial owner of more than 14.9% of the Company's common stock outstanding at such time, including for these purposes economic exposure through derivative securities, swaps, or hedging transactions," it added.

Agrawal said that Musk is both a passionate believer and intense critic of the service "which is exactly what we need on @Twitter, and in the boardroom, to make us stronger in the long-term. Welcome Elon!"

Earlier in the day, Musk asked his more than 80 million followers if they wish to have an edit button on their tweets.

"Do you want an edit button?" Musk posted a poll.

Agrawal replied: "The consequences of this poll will be important. Please vote carefully".

Twitter users have long been demanding an edit button in order to tweets that went live with errors.

The buzz over an edit button on Twitter resurfaced on April 1 when the micro-blogging platform said it was working on an edit button.

Twitter shares closed up 27 per cent on Monday after Musk took 9.2 per cent stake in the social media company.

--IANS

na/