Facebook appoints Nick Clegg as VP & Head of Global Affairs and Communications
Clegg, a former Liberal Democrat leader, served as UK Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015 and will replace Elliot Schrage
In what has been seen as a surprise appointment, Facebook has appointed former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg as its Vice President, Head of Global Affairs and Communications, according to media reports.
Clegg, a former Liberal Democrat leader, served as UK Deputy Prime Minister from 2010 to 2015 and will replace Elliot Schrage. He will take up his new post on Monday, and will spend a week at the company's Menlo Park headquarters before moving to California permanently in the new year.
According to reports, Clegg commented on his new role in a Facebook post, saying, "Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, Oculus and Instagram are at the heart of so many people’s everyday lives – but also at the heart of some of the most complex and difficult questions we face as a society: the privacy of the individual; the integrity of our democratic process; the tensions between local cultures and the global internet; the balance between free speech and prohibited content; the power and concerns around artificial intelligence; and the wellbeing of our children".
He continued, "I believe that Facebook must continue to play a role in finding answers to those questions – not by acting alone in Silicon Valley, but by working with people, organizations, governments and regulators around the world to ensure that technology is a force for good."
Speaking on the appointment, Sheryl Sandberg, Chief Operating Officer at Facebook, said: "Our company is on a critical journey. The challenges we face are serious and clear and now more than ever we need new perspectives to help us though [sic] this time of change. The opportunities are clear too. Every day people use our apps to connect with family and friends and make a difference in their communities. If we can honor the trust they put in us and live up to our responsibilities, we can help more people use technology to do good. That’s what motivates our teams and from all my conversations with Nick, it’s clear that he believes in this as well. His experience and ability to work through complex issues will be invaluable in the years to come" according to media reports.
