USA: Elon Musk becomes sole director after firing Twitter’s board

Tesla CEO becomes sole director of social media giant after finalising $44bn takeover.

The billionaire took over the social media company last week, ending months of back and forth over the $44bn deal.

He has moved quickly to put his mark on the service, used by politicians and journalists around the world.

The reforms he is contemplating include changes for how Twitter verifies accounts, as well as job cuts.

The Washington Post has reported that a first round of cuts is under discussion that could affect 25% of the company’s staff.

Twitter did not respond to a request for comment from the BBC on the report.

Top executives have already been removed, as Mr Musk brings in high profile allies to the company.

Among his team is tech investor Jason Calacanis who changed his Twitter bio to “chief meme officer”, said he was “hanging out at Twitter a bit … during the transition”.

He took to the social media site to solicit opinions on a range of topics from advertising to video.

He also asked how much people would pay to be verified, amid reports that Twitter could charge people $20 per month to keep the blue ticks that indicate verified accounts.

Mr Musk, who leads electric car maker Tesla, has changed his biography on the social media site to “Chief Twit”.

He is now the sole director of Twitter, according to a filing on Monday with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The nine ousted directors include former chairman of the board Bret Taylor and former chief executive Parag Agrawal.

Baroness Martha Lane Fox, currently president of the British Chambers of Commerce, who is among the board members to be removed under the merger agreement, declined to comment.