London: Former UK Deputy Prime Minister Sir Nick Clegg has resigned as President of Meta’s Global Affairs, the social media giant. In a post on Meta’s Facebook page, Sir Nick announced his decision to leave the company after nearly seven years, marking the end of his term at one of the world’s most influential tech firms.
Sir Nick will be succeeded by his deputy, Joel Kaplan, a prominent Republican and former deputy chief of staff in the George W. Bush administration. Kaplan, known for handling Meta’s relationships with Republican leaders, will take over as Chief Global Affairs Officer.
The transition comes at a pivotal time, just weeks before Donald Trump’s return to the White House. Trump’s relationship with Meta and CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been fraught, following Facebook’s determination to suspend his accounts in 2021 for violating platform policies during the Capitol riots. Trump has since criticised Meta for alleged censorship, threatening legal action against Zuckerberg.
Despite this, recent interactions between the two appear to signal a warming of relations. Trump and Zuckerberg were seen dining together at Mar-a-Lago post-election, and Zuckerberg has since donated $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund.
Sir Nick, a former leader of the Liberal Democrats, joined Meta in 2018 after losing his parliamentary seat. Sir Nick was later promoted to oversee global affairs, during which he played a key role in setting Meta’s oversight board. The board guides content moderation, privacy policies, and other major issues facing the platform.
In his departure announcement, Sir Nick voiced pride in his role at Meta, saying his time coincided with significant shifts in the relationship between big tech and global politics. Sir Nick stated that, “I hope I have played some role in bridging the very different worlds of tech and politics,” he stated.
Before officially stepping down, Sir Nick will play the coming months ensuring a smooth transition and representing Meta at international events. He hinted at embarking on “new adventures” but has yet to reveal his next steps.
Joel Kaplan, his successor, is set to navigate the challenges ahead as Meta continues to grapple with regulatory scrutiny and its evolving relationship with global political figures.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has praised Kaplan as the ideal leader to take on the role, stating that, “Joel’s extensive experience in both politics and tech makes him the perfect person to guide us forward.”
Sir Nick’s departure marks a significant change for Meta as it adapts to a new political landscape and redefines its role under renewed global scrutiny.
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