Sheryl Sandberg, Meta's former chief operating officer who served as CEO Mark Zuckerberg's top deputy, helping him transforming Facebook from a hot startup to a tech powerhouse, is leaving the company's board.
Sandberg, who joined Facebook in 2008, announced in a Facebook post that she will not stand for reelection in May, ending what she described as "an opportunity of a lifetime."
"I will always be grateful to Mark for believing in me and for his partnership and friendship," Sandberg said. "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."
Zuckerberg responded with a comment on Sandberg's post, praising her "extraordinary contributions 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," he said.
Sandberg left a top post at Google to join Facebook as COO in 2008. She won praise for helping lead the Menlo Park, Calif.-based company grew rapidly to become a dominant social networking and digital advertising giant company.
She joined Facebook's board in 2012, the year the company went public. But Sandberg later became controversial amid allegations that she didn't do enough to prevent misinformation and propaganda on the Facebook platform.
Sandberg stepped down as COO in 2022, but remained on the Meta board.
