Reddit Seeks New Chief Product Officer After Pali Bhat Departure

Reddit is entering a new chapter in its product leadership as Pali Bhat, the company’s first-ever chief product officer (CPO), prepares to leave in the coming months. Bhat, who joined Reddit in October 2021 after a tenure at Google, has been instrumental in shaping Reddit’s product strategy during a pivotal period.

CEO Steve Huffman praised Bhat’s leadership, highlighting how he built a culture of execution, assembled a talented team, and steered the company through some of its most challenging moments. Under Bhat’s guidance, Reddit launched initiatives aimed at simplifying the user experience and introduced AI-powered search tools to enhance content discovery.

However, Bhat’s tenure also coincided with significant controversies, including widespread protests over API pricing changes that led to the shutdown of popular third-party apps like Apollo. Despite the backlash, Reddit maintained its course, underscoring the complexities of balancing platform control with community expectations.

As Reddit searches for a new product leader, interim responsibilities are divided among existing executives: COO Jennifer Wong will oversee user growth initiatives, CTO Chris Slowe will manage engineering, and CEO Huffman will continue to drive the long-term product vision. The company remains focused on expanding globally, enhancing its advertising platform, improving search functionality, and refining the core Reddit experience.

This leadership transition comes at a critical time when Reddit is balancing innovation with community demands. The next CPO will face the challenge of advancing product improvements while respecting the platform’s unique culture and user base, including debates around preserving features like “old Reddit.”

For tech companies navigating similar transitions, Reddit’s experience underscores the importance of strong product leadership in driving growth and managing change. It also highlights how product decisions can ripple across user communities and third-party ecosystems.