Facebook Chief Product Officer Chris Cox, WhatsApp VP Chris Daniels leave the company

Embroiled in data privacy scandals amid the unabated spread of fake news on its platform, Facebook has lately seen several high-profile exits.

By: INDO ASIAN NEWS SERVICE
| Updated on: Mar 15 2019, 11:45 IST
Facebook logo is seen on a shop window in Malaga, Spain, June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/Files
Facebook logo is seen on a shop window in Malaga, Spain, June 4, 2018. REUTERS/Jon Nazca/Files (REUTERS)

As Facebook pushes for a more private and encrypted communication across its apps, two of its top executives -- Chief Product Officer Chris Cox and WhatsApp Vice President Chris Daniels -- have quit the company, CEO Mark Zuckerberg has announced.

Embroiled in data privacy scandals amid the unabated spread of fake news on its platform, Facebook has lately seen several high-profile exits.

You may be interested in

MobilesTablets Laptops
7% OFF
Apple iPhone 15 Pro Max
  • Black Titanium
  • 8 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
Google Pixel 8 Pro
  • Obsidian
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage
34% OFF
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra 5G
  • Green
  • 12 GB RAM
  • 256 GB Storage
Apple iPhone 15 Plus
  • Black
  • 6 GB RAM
  • 128 GB Storage

"Cox and I have worked closely together to build our products for more than a decade and I will always appreciate his deep empathy for the people using our services and the uplifting spirit he brings to everything he does," Zuckerberg said in a blog post late Thursday.

Also read
Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here.

In a separate Facebook post, Cox said Facebook is turning a new page in its product direction, focused on an encrypted, interoperable, messaging network.

"It's a product vision attuned to the subject matter of today: a modern communications platform that balances expression, safety, security, and privacy.

"This will be a big project and we will need leaders who are excited to see the new direction through," wrote Cox, who was one of the first 15 engineers Facebook hired 13 years back.

Zuckerberg also announced the departure of Chris Daniel, who helped Facebook define the business model for WhatsApp going forward.

"Daniel has also done great work in many roles, including running our business development team, leading Internet.org, which has helped more than 100 million people get access to the Internet," said the Facebook CEO.

Daniel was in India last year where he met IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad to discuss ways to sanitise WhatsApp amid several lynching episodes that happened owing to the spread of rumours on the platform.

"Will Cathcart will be the new head of WhatsApp. Most recently, he has done a great job running the Facebook app," Zuckerberg informed.

Fidji Simo will be the new head of the Facebook app.

"The leaders of Facebook (Fidji Simo), Instagram (Adam Mosseri), Messenger (Stan Chudnovsky), and WhatsApp (Will Cathcart) will report directly to me, and our Chief Marketing Officer (Antonio Lucio) will report directly to Sheryl (Sandberg)," Zuckerberg announced.

Last year, Instagram co-founders Mike Krieger and Kevin Systrom quit after reportedly facing issues with Zuckerberg.

Jan Koum and Brian Acton, co-founders of WhatsApp, have also quit to pursue other ventures, as Zuckerberg plans to merge all its apps into one unified experience.

Catch all the Latest Tech News, Mobile News, Laptop News, Gaming news, Wearables News , How To News, also keep up with us on Whatsapp channel,Twitter, Facebook, Google News, and Instagram. For our latest videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

First Published Date: 15 Mar, 11:45 IST
NEXT ARTICLE BEGINS