I don’t think Discord took a step backward with its new CEO

I don’t think Discord took a step backward with its new CEO, especially with internal checks already in place.

Sure, Humam Sakhnini (ex-CEO of King) comes from the world of ads and micro-transactions (Candy Crush) – a very different world from Discord’s creator-first, community-driven ethos.

So I understand why people are concerned, especially with the IPO approaching and monetization pressure building. If Discord leans too hard into short-term gains, it risks breaking the creator loop it’s nurtured for years:

→ Play → Create → Share → Inspire → Repeat.

But it doesn’t have to be either/or.
Growth happens when both sides win: players get empowered, and the platform grows, using that revenue to reinvest in better tools, UGC programs, and community-driven experiences.

CTO Stanislav Vishnevskiy also seems acutely aware of the risks. I read that he’s been vocal about his concerns around “enshittification” – the slow erosion of user experience under profit pressure and that he regularly brings it up in leadership meetings. That kind of internal pushback is exactly what you want if the goal is to grow without losing the trust of the community.

I’m curious to see how Discord handles this next chapter. Exciting times ahead.