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Nick Clegg, president of global affairs at Meta, is leaving the social media platform and will be replaced by Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican known for overseeing the company’s relations with conservatives.
In a Facebook post from Meta on Thursday, Cleggformer leader of the Liberal Democrats and deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom, said he was leaving the company after seven years. He added that he would spend “a few months passing the baton” and representing Facebook at international gatherings before embarking on “new adventures.”
Kaplan previously served as deputy chief of staff at the White House during the George W. Bush administration and is known for managing the firm’s relations with Republicans.
In the past, Facebook has rejected allegations that certain figures, including Kaplan, exerted political influence over its decision-making processes and treatment of politicians.
This reshuffle comes just weeks before Donald Trump – who has repeatedly accused Meta and other platforms for censoring and silencing conservative speech — is about to return to the White House.
Some Big Tech executives, who previously had cool relations with the Republican leader, have since taken steps to court the president-elect. Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg has dined with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida since the US election and congratulated him on his victory. Semafor was the first to report the changes.
