Sheryl Sandberg, the COO of Meta Flatforms‘, owners of Facebook said on Wednesday that she is quitting the social network business after 14 years.
Sandberg’s exit comes as the social network has been embroiled in a series of privacy and disinformation crises. The long-serving executive hasn’t been without controversy, and has been chastised for the company’s tardy response to Russian meddling in the 2016 US election.
“Since those early days, the discourse around social media has evolved dramatically. It’s an understatement to say it hasn’t always been easy “In a Facebook post announcing her leaving, Sandberg wrote. “However, it should be difficult. Because the things we create have such a large impact, we must ensure that they are built in a way that protects privacy and keeps people secure.”
Meanwhile, Meta, formerly known as Facebook, has been concentrating on the creation of virtual worlds in which people can connect, play, and work. Virtual reality and augmented reality have become more important to the organisation.
Sandberg first joined Facebook in 2008, assisting in the growth of the social media giant’s multibillion-dollar advertising division. After the publication of her best-selling book “Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead” in 2013, she was lauded as a feminist icon.
Sandberg was Google’s vice president of worldwide online sales and operations before joining Facebook. She has also served as the head of staff to United States Treasury Secretary Larry Summers.
After her husband Dave Goldberg, the CEO of SurveyMonkey, died unexpectedly in Mexico from heart difficulties in 2017, she wrote her second book, “Option B,” about overcoming adversity.
Sandberg said in a Facebook post that it’s time for her to write her next chapter after 14 years at Facebook.
“I am not totally certain about what the future holds – but I have learnt that no one ever is,” she wrote on Facebook. “However, I am confident that it will include a greater focus on my foundation and humanitarian work, which is more important to me than ever given the critical nature of this moment for women.”