Facebook’s Vice President of Communications and Public Policy, Elliot Schrage, has resigned from the company.
Schrage joined Facebook in 2008, before which he worked at Google. He led Facebook’s response to the Cambridge Analytica scandal.
While there is no information yet on Schrage’s replacement, the communications team will be jointly led by Rachel Whetstone and Caryn Marooney for the time being. Schrage will be assisting in the process of hiring his replacement, and Facebook plans to search externally for the position.
“I’ve had the incredible opportunity to help build an extraordinary global team of dedicated professionals in policy and communications,” Schrage said in a statement posted to his Facebook profile Thursday. “Working with some of the most talented and creative engineers, product managers, visionaries and business leaders that good fortune (and inspiring leadership) has brought together has changed my life.
After more than a decade at Facebook, I’ve decided it’s time to start a new chapter in my life,” Schrage said in a statement to Recode. “Leading policy and communications for hyper-growth technology companies is a joy — but it’s also intense and leaves little room for much else. Mark, Sheryl and I have been discussing this for a while.”
“You’ve made an extraordinary contribution to Facebook — dealing with some of our toughest challenges and helping enable some of our biggest opportunities,” Facebook Founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a comment on Schrage’s post. “You’ve been committed to our mission throughout and have always seen the potential that comes when people can connect to others and build community.”
“Elliot is one of the most creative and strategic people I have worked with. He’s been instrumental in building our policy and communications teams as well as pushing many of our key initiatives — including the recent publication of our community standards, data about our effectiveness enforcing those standards and the creation of an independent election commission. Mark and I look forward to his ongoing advice over the years ahead,” Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg said in a statement.
