Facebook Turns to U.K. Politician to Help Repair Image -- Update

By Stu Woo 

LONDON-- Facebook Inc. has hired one of Britain's best-known politicians as its top policy and communications executive, giving a Silicon Valley outsider the task of mending the social network's image as it deals with increased political scrutiny in the U.S. and abroad.

Facebook said Friday that Nick Clegg, who as deputy prime minister was Britain's No. 2 leader from 2010 to 2015, would replace Elliot Schrage, who said in June that he was stepping down.

Mr. Clegg's recruitment comes after trust in Facebook was eroded following several mistakes in 2018. Outrage grew this spring over allegations that data firm Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed information on tens of millions of Facebook users and that Russian-backed propagandists had exploited the social network.

More recently, hackers, believed to be spammers, gained access to the private information of 30 million Facebook users.

Meanwhile, several public funds holding Facebook stock are backing a proposal to push out Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg as the board's chairman.

Facebook officials have been busy explaining the recent breach to Washington and foreign governments. In Brussels, Facebook could face a European Union fine of as much as $1.63 billion.

Mr. Zuckerberg and Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg spent a lot of time with Mr. Clegg before hiring him, said a person familiar with the process. Facebook wanted an outsider with fresh perspectives, the person said.

In a Facebook post, Ms. Sandberg said the company faced serious challenges and "now more than ever" needed new perspectives.

"His [Mr. Clegg's] experience and ability to work through complex issues will be invaluable in the years to come," she said.

Mr. Clegg's appointment surprised Britain's political world Friday. He led the Liberal Democrats, a centrist group that is the country's third-biggest political party, from 2007 to 2015. He became deputy prime minister in 2010 after the Liberal Democrats joined the Conservatives in a governing coalition that lasted until his party faltered in the 2015 election. Mr. Clegg lost his own seat in Britain's parliament in 2017.

Since then, Mr. Clegg has been a vocal advocate for the European Union, calling for a second referendum on the U.K.'s membership. Britain is set to leave the bloc in 2019.

Mr. Clegg previously worked for the European Commission, the EU's executive arm, partly as a trade negotiator.

Write to Stu Woo at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 19, 2018 09:35 ET (13:35 GMT)

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