All seven members of BTS went live for the first time in years on July 1, which means this is perhaps only the day’s second-biggest news to come out of Hybe: Scott “Scooter” Braun is stepping down as CEO of Hybe America, with plans to pursue new ventures outside the company. Per Billboard, he isn’t actually leaving yet. Instead, he will transition to an advisory role on Hybe’s board of directors and serve as a senior adviser to chairman and CEO Bang Si-hyuk. So does this mean no more Disneyland trips with the members of Katseye? Not necessarily.
Braun told staffers on a Monday call that he “isn’t going anywhere” and will “still help guide” HYBE roster artists, according to The Hollywood Reporter, naming Katseye as one of the projects that Braun will still be involved in. Braun also remains the second-largest individual shareholder at HYBE. His move was reportedly part of a five-year plan that began when Braun sold his Ithaca Holdings company to HYBE in 2021. (HYBE Latin America chairman Isaac Lee will now step in as the chairman and CEO of HYBE Americas.) But Braun’s connection to Hybe has been criticized by some fans, who take issue with him being a supporter of Israel or a nemesis of Taylor Swift. Either way, he hasn’t fully scooted out of the company yet.
So why change his role at all? Braun is reportedly preparing to focus on a new venture outside of Hybe, though it’s unclear what that will look like. A press release only vaguely says his next steps will “reflect his expansive cross-industry vision and proven ability to cultivate culture at scale while continuing a focus on his philanthropic efforts.” Meanwhile, Bang praised Braun for his contributions in establishing Hybe’s “ambitious” presence in the U.S. market. “I am deeply grateful for his leadership, his astute instincts, and his unwavering passion for artists,” he said in a statement. “We wish him immense success in his exciting next chapter and look forward to continuing our partnership in executing Hybe’s global vision.”
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He’s stepping down as HYBE America’s CEO and reportedly has plans for a different endeavor.
