Through these discussions, Mr. Taylor’s position is unchallenged, according to four people familiar with his thinking. Meetings between Mr. Fox and Mr. Pichett are usually virtual and can take place at odd times as the three dial in from around the world, said a person familiar with the discussions. Taylor acts quickly and often asks Twitter lawyers and bankers about their views before making decisions, the person added.
Through a spokesperson, Taylor declined to be interviewed.
Colleagues and close friends point to Mr. Taylor as a quiet antidote to Mr. Musk’s impulsiveness and convention-breaking nature. He is methodical and has deep experience navigating complex business deals, said eight of his people who have worked with him. Silicon Little known outside of his Valley, Mr. Taylor contributed to the creation of his Google Maps and his Facebook Like button. In his 2016 he joined Twitter’s board of directors, and in November he became co-CEO of Salesforce.
John Lilly, a partner at Greylock Partners, has invested in the company Taylor started.
That didn’t stop Mr. Musk from trying to stick a needle in Mr. Taylor.
The two met in July at a business conference in Sun Valley, Idaho, a day after Mr. Musk’s lawyer sent a letter to Twitter announcing plans to drop the deal. (Mr. Taylor replied to the letter: Tweet, tells billionaires to expect lawsuits. )
On stage, Musk ridiculed Twitter’s tally of fake accounts on its platform, which he cited as a gross underestimation and a reason for declining the deal. Musk asked the audience if any members of the Spam account really believed he accounted for less than 5% of Twitter’s users. Taylor sat surrounded by Twitter chief executive Parag Agrawal and chief financial officer Ned Segal.
Mr. Taylor didn’t flinch. “He’s not irritated,” said Slack CEO Stewart Butterfield, who sat nearby to watch Mr. Taylor react. “He is very adamant and, like me, definitely believes in the merits of this case.”