Sheryl Sandberg, Former Meta COO, Is Leaving The Board

Sheryl Sandberg, Mark Zuckerberg’s longtime number two who stepped down as COO in 2022, said today she’s also leaving the board of Meta.

Sandberg was one of the highest-ranking women in the business and tech world as chief operating officer of Facebook, then Meta, which she joined in 2008. While there, she authored the 2013 bestselling Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. 

“With a heart filled with gratitude and a mind filled with memories, I let the Met board know that I will not stand for reelection this May,” she wrote n a Facebook post. “After I left my role as COO, I remained on the board to help ensure a successful transition.”

“I will always be grateful to Mark for believing in me and for his partnership and friendship; he is that truly once-in-a-generation visionary leader and he is equally amazing as a friend who stays by your side through the good times and the bad.”

When she left as COO, Javier Olivan, Meta’s former chief growth officer, stepped into the role but Zuckerberg said then, “I don’t plan to replace Sheryl’s role in our existing structure. I’m not sure that would be possible since she’s a superstar who defined the COO role in her own unique way.”

In a post today, he said, “Thank you Sheryl for the extraordinary contributions you have made to our company and community over the years. Your dedication and guidance have been instrumental in driving our success and I am grateful for your unwavering commitment to me and Meta over the years. I look forward to this next chapter together!”

Facebook changed its name to Meta in 2021 and began plowing billions of dollars into the Metaverse although its now pivoted to AI.