YouTube CEO’s memo offering voluntary buyouts to employees

In a memo to employees, CEO Neal Mohan announced that the company will offer voluntary buyouts with severance to its U.S.-based workforce as it reorganizes its product teams. 

While CEO Mohan emphasized that no layoffs are planned, the move marks a major cultural and structural shift for the video platform. “Looking to the future, the next frontier for YouTube is AI, which has the potential to transform every part of the platform,” he wrote in the internal note. “We need to set ourselves up to make the most of this opportunity.”

"These changes will take effect on November 5. There are no role eliminations as part of this reorganization."

"..we also understand some of you may be ready for a new challenge, so we've decided now is the right time to offer a Voluntary Exit Program. Starting today, eligible US YouTubers in my direct-reporting org have the ability to voluntarily leave with a severance package. US YouTubers will receive more details in a separate note," Mohan shared. 

Read the YouTube CEO's memo below:

The reorganization, the first of its kind in ten years, is aimed at streamline operations and position YouTube to innovate faster in the AI era. Under the new structure, three core product groups will now report directly to Mohan: 

• Viewer Products, led by Chief Product Officer Johanna Voolich, will oversee YouTube’s main app, Living Room, Search and Discovery, YouTube Kids, Learning, and Trust and Safety. 
• Creator and Community Products, which will focus on empowering creators and their audiences. 
• Subscription Products, headed by Christian Oestlien, will manage YouTube Music, YouTube Premium, YouTube TV, Primetime Channels, Podcasts, and Commerce. 

While YouTube insists this isn’t a cost-cutting exercise, the voluntary exit program offers an option for employees who may be ready to explore new paths. 

The restructuring comes as parent company Google, under CEO Sundar Pichai, pushes all divisions to embed AI more deeply into their workflows to drive innovation and productivity. It also mirrors broader moves across the tech industry, with companies like Amazon recently announcing 14,000 job cuts as part of their own AI-focused realignments.