Communications veteran John Pinette has been named Facebook’s new VP of global communications. Pinette is replacing Caryn Marooney, who announced her departure plans in February.
“John’s deep understanding of the technology industry and his experience leading communications teams will be invaluable to helping us communicate the work we do at Facebook every day,” said Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg on the company’s newest communications lead.
Why you should care
Facebook’s communications team has had a trying year, to say the least. Marooney is leaving her post as VP of technology communications after eight years with the company. Facebook also lost its head of communications and public policy, Elliot Schrage, last June after a ten-year tenure with the company.
As Facebook continues its plan to transition from a socially-focused News Feed into a privacy-driven messaging platform, it’s communications policies may likely change as well. Whether or not the changes will offer more transparency for advertisers and users is still unknown.
Pinette comes to Facebook after serving as the VP of marketing and communications for Vulcan Inc., a philanthropic organization founded by Paul Allen. Before his two years at Vulcan, he held communications roles at a capital management firm and Gates Ventures (Bill Gate’s private office and innovation lab). Pinette also was a former Google employee, serving as the director of communications for Asia between 2007 and 2009.
More on the news
John Pinette has more than two decades of communications experience across several industries, including global health, finance, innovation and technology.
Between 1996 and 2007, he was the director of communications for Microsoft and Microsoft Asia (from 2004 to 2006).
Facebook also announced a new general counsel. Jennifer Newstead will oversee the company’s global legal functions, and is replacing former general counsel Colin Stretch.
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