CEO to depart group he helped launch on behalf of tech giants such as Google and Facebook

Beckerman

Michael Beckerman will step down as CEO of the $7.2 million-revenue Internet Association on Feb. 29 for a job in the private sector, leaving the group he helped launch eight years ago.

Beckerman was deputy staff director for the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee when he was tapped by major technology industry players as the first top executive of IA in 2012. The association's founding members included Amazon, Facebook and Google, all of which were seeking to amplify their collective voice in Washington, D.C., following a series of policy fights involving the internet sector.

Beckerman grew IA from an initial 10 companies to more than 40 members today. He is leaving the association to become vice president of public policy for the social media platform TikTok, according to news reports.

"The internet industry is grateful to Michael for his leadership of IA from startup, to scale up, to an established advocacy organization," Holly Windham, chair of IA's board of directors, said in a statement. "Michael brings fresh thinking, a spirit of innovation, and incredible drive to his advocacy and pursuit of industry consensus."

Beckerman will assist IA's executive committee and board of directors in the search for his successor, the association said. IA General Counsel Jon Berroya will become interim CEO on March 1.