Sheryl Sandberg, former Chief Operating Officer of Meta, has revealed her decision to step down from the company’s board of directors. An influential figure in the tech industry, Sandberg expressed that the current juncture marks an appropriate time for her departure, given Meta’s robust positioning for the future. Despite resigning from the board, she will maintain an informal advisory role within the company. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, conveyed appreciation for Sandberg’s remarkable contributions. Sandberg’s association with the company dates back to its early days as Facebook, where she played a pivotal role in transforming its advertising arm into a profitable entity, overseeing the incorporation of platforms such as Instagram, WhatsApp, and Messenger. While globally recognized for her books, including the feminist manifesto “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead,” Sandberg encountered challenges during her tenure, including criticism for misinformation during the 2016 election, the 2018 Cambridge Analytica privacy scandal, and the 2021 Capitol riot. Sharing her departure on Facebook, Sandberg reflected on her time with gratitude. Zuckerberg responded with thanks for her outstanding contributions and steadfast dedication to Meta. Presently, Meta faces new challenges, including stringent social media regulations from various countries and shifts in privacy rules by Apple impacting its targeted advertising business. Furthermore, the company contends with stagnant Facebook user growth in key markets like the US, with younger users gravitating towards competitors like TikTok.
