Sheryl Sandberg, the No. 2 executive at Facebook owner Meta, has decided to step down. She has been the social media company’s chief operational officer for 14 years.
Sandberg helped transform the company from a startup to a digital advertising powerhouse while also assuming responsibility for some of its worst mistakes.
She joined Facebook from Google in 2008, four years before the company went public. She oversaw Facebook’s advertising business, growing it from its beginnings to a $100 billion-a-year behemoth.
Sandberg, the company’s second most-recognized face behind CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has also become a contentious figure following disclosures about how some of her business choices for Facebook contributed to the spread of misinformation and hate speech.
“The end of an era. In the 14 years we’ve worked together, you’ve architected our ads business, hired great people, forged our management culture, and taught me how to run a company,” responded Zuckerberg.
“I’m going to miss working alongside you every day, but grateful to have you as a lifelong friend. Thank you for all you’ve done for me and my family, for our company, and for millions of people around the world,” he added.
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