Facebook Turns to U.K. Politician to Help Repair Image -- Update
October 19 2018 - 9:50AM
Dow Jones News
By Stu Woo
LONDON-- Facebook Inc. has hired one of Britain's best-known
politicians as its top policy and communications executive, giving
a Silicon Valley outsider the task of mending the social network's
image as it deals with increased political scrutiny in the U.S. and
abroad.
Facebook said Friday that Nick Clegg, who as deputy prime
minister was Britain's No. 2 leader from 2010 to 2015, would
replace Elliot Schrage, who said in June that he was stepping
down.
Mr. Clegg's recruitment comes after trust in Facebook was eroded
following several mistakes in 2018. Outrage grew this spring over
allegations that data firm Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed
information on tens of millions of Facebook users and that
Russian-backed propagandists had exploited the social network.
More recently, hackers, believed to be spammers, gained access
to the private information of 30 million Facebook users.
Meanwhile, several public funds holding Facebook stock are
backing a proposal to push out Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg as
the board's chairman.
Facebook officials have been busy explaining the recent breach
to Washington and foreign governments. In Brussels, Facebook could
face a European Union fine of as much as $1.63 billion.
Mr. Zuckerberg and Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl
Sandberg spent a lot of time with Mr. Clegg before hiring him, said
a person familiar with the process. Facebook wanted an outsider
with fresh perspectives, the person said.
In a Facebook post, Ms. Sandberg said the company faced serious
challenges and "now more than ever" needed new perspectives.
"His [Mr. Clegg's] experience and ability to work through
complex issues will be invaluable in the years to come," she
said.
Mr. Clegg's appointment surprised Britain's political world
Friday. He led the Liberal Democrats, a centrist group that is the
country's third-biggest political party, from 2007 to 2015. He
became deputy prime minister in 2010 after the Liberal Democrats
joined the Conservatives in a governing coalition that lasted until
his party faltered in the 2015 election. Mr. Clegg lost his own
seat in Britain's parliament in 2017.
Since then, Mr. Clegg has been a vocal advocate for the European
Union, calling for a second referendum on the U.K.'s membership.
Britain is set to leave the bloc in 2019.
Mr. Clegg previously worked for the European Commission, the
EU's executive arm, partly as a trade negotiator.
Write to Stu Woo at Stu.Woo@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 19, 2018 09:35 ET (13:35 GMT)
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