Linda Yaccarino Appointed CEO of eMed After Departing Elon Musk’s X
From Social Media to Digital Medicine: Former X CEO to Lead eMed’s Expansion in the Telehealth Weight-Loss Revolution
Media veteran transitions to digital healthcare, leading telehealth firm eMed at pivotal moment in GLP-1 weight-loss drug expansion
Linda Yaccarino, the former CEO of Elon Musk’s social media platform X (formerly Twitter), has taken on a bold new challenge — this time in the digital healthcare arena. On Tuesday, she was named the new Chief Executive Officer of eMed, a Miami-based telehealth startup that specializes in the distribution of GLP-1 medications such as Wegovy and Ozempic, commonly prescribed for weight loss and chronic health management.
The appointment marks a sharp pivot for Yaccarino, whose career has largely been rooted in media, advertising, and global partnerships. Before her tumultuous tenure at X, Yaccarino spent decades leading advertising and partnership strategy at NBCUniversal and Turner Broadcasting.
In a statement announcing the leadership change, eMed emphasized that Yaccarino arrives at a “game-changing moment” in the company’s five-year history, as it shifts from its pandemic-era Covid testing roots into broader digital healthcare offerings. Her experience, the company noted, will be “instrumental” as eMed expands partnerships with national and global employers and government entities.
“The healthcare industry has been disrupted by technology, but not yet completely transformed by it,” said Yaccarino in the company’s press release. “There is an opportunity to combine technology, lifestyle, and data in a powerful way through digital channels that directly impact consumers like never before.”
Founded during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, eMed quickly made its name by providing accessible at-home Covid testing kits. As the health landscape evolved, the company pivoted toward the booming demand for GLP-1-based chronic care, joining the likes of Weight Watchers in a digital-first strategy that includes teleprescribing medications for weight loss.
Yaccarino’s move comes shortly after her high-profile exit from X, a role she assumed in June 2023, just months after Musk acquired the platform. Tasked with stabilizing X’s advertising business amidst Musk’s controversial leadership, she faced a cascade of public relations crises — from the rise of hate speech and misinformation on the platform to high-profile advertiser pullouts.
Her tenure was particularly strained when X’s AI chatbot, Grok, was recently caught promoting antisemitic tropes, just one day before her resignation. Though no formal connection between the incident and her departure was confirmed, the timing raised eyebrows across the industry.
Yaccarino’s decision to join eMed signals not only a professional reinvention but also reflects the growing convergence of healthcare, technology, and consumer engagement. As the digital health sector rapidly expands, her leadership may usher in a new era of scalable, tech-driven wellness solutions.
Despite leaving behind the chaos of social media, Yaccarino appears poised to take on a different kind of transformation — one aimed at redefining how people access and experience chronic care.
