Facebook announced yesterday its current Chief Operating Officer (COO) Sheryl Sandberg will be joining the company’s board of directors.
Sandberg becomes the first woman to serve at Facebook’s board of directors.
Sandberg is well versed in running technology companies at an executive level. Before coming to Facebook, she was Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations at Google.
At Google, she ran the online sales channels for advertising and publishing and operations for consumer products worldwide. Sandberg also previously served as Chief of Staff for the United States Treasury Department under President Bill Clinton.
Commenting on her appointment, Facebook CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg said: “Sheryl has been my partner in running Facebook and has been central to our growth and success over the years.”
He further said: “Her understanding of our mission and long-term opportunity, and her experience both at Facebook and on public company boards makes her a natural fit for our board.”
As the social networking site’s former COO, she had to oversee its business operations including sales, marketing, business development, legal, human resources, public policy and communications.
Sandberg expressed her commitment to the social networking company saying she is committed to the company’s mission of making the world more open and connected.
She said: “It’s a mission that I’m deeply passionate about, and I feel fortunate to be part of a company that is having such a profound impact in the world.”
Her appointment is a welcome change in an industry associated with males.
Sandberg also serves on the boards of The Walt Disney Company, Women for Women International, the Center for Global Development and V-Day.
She is a Harvard University alumna having graduated with both B.A. and M.B.A degrees from the University. She started her working career at the World Bank as an economist.
