Facebook has hired Nick Clegg, the former UK deputy prime minister. Nick will lead Facebook’s global affairs and communications team as the company faces safety issues over data protection and the threat of greater government regulation.
Nick will move to Silicon Valley in January and would replace Elliot Schrage, who announced his resignation in June after working in Facebook for 10-years. In a post on Facebook, Nick said: “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.”
Nick who has been a deputy prime minister, led the Liberal Democrat party in coalition with David Cameron’s Conservatives between 2010 to 2015. Sir Nick is the most senior addition to Facebook’s leadership team from outside the company’s own top ranks since 2014. He would help Facebook stem the criticism and offer advice on handling European regulators and navigating the looming legal challenges of the General Data Protection Regulation.
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer 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 through this time of change. Nick was a “thoughtful and gifted leader” who “understands deeply the responsibilities we have to people who use our service around the world.