John Pinet, head of communications at Facebook's parent company Meta Platforms, has left the company. A Meta spokesperson said in an email Saturday: "We thank John for his positive contribution during a tense and important period in the company's history. I hope he has all the best in the future.". The spokesman did not say why Pinet left.
According to the Wall Street Journal, Pinet revealed the news to employees in a Friday afternoon post, saying it would be his last working day. The post said: "I know the team will continue to thrive because you guys do some of the most important – and most difficult – jobs in the communications department. "
Pinet has been in charge of communications since 2019, having previously led Google's communications efforts in Asia. He also worked for Bill Gates and Vulcan, the company of Microsoft and the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen.
Meta and its Facebook and Instagram social networks have been the subject of intense external scrutiny after former Facebook employee Frances Haugen leaked a batch of internal documents that show company researchers are well aware of the dangers the platform poses to specific groups of people. Late last year, the leak sparked a series of high-profile media reports, and Haugen testified before Congress.
A meta spokesperson told Reuters that chris Norton, vice president of international communications, will currently take over Pinette's former role.
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