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Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerberg (R), and Joel Kaplan (L), Vice President, Global Public Policy.
- A wave of Facebook execs have left the company in the past 12 months
- And with the company under pressure, there are likely to be more ousters, defections and departures.
- These are some of the top execs to keep an eye on, according to company insiders.
Facebook's brutal 2018 was accompanied by a wave of executive departures.
As the Silicon Valley tech giant grappled with the Cambridge Analytica scandal and its role spreading hate speech that fueled genocide in Myanmar, several longtime senior leaders at the company headed for the exits.
Instagram cofounders Kevin Systrom and Mike Krieger, VP of partnerships Dan Rose, WhatsApp cofounder Jan Koum, and policy and comms boss Elliot Schrage are just some of the execs that have announced their departures over the last 12 months.
As the new year kicks off, Facebook's turbulence shows no signs of abating, so Business Insider asked current and former employees a question: Who might be next to go?
Flight risk is an important issue at tech companies like Facebook whose fortunes can hinge on the talent of product visionaries and engineers, and the degree to which Facebook can retain its top talent will influence Facebook's ability to navigate its current crisis.
To be clear, this is informed speculation and guesswork: The sources we surveyed don't have inside knowledge of any confirmed but unannounced coming departures. But with Facebook under pressure to get its house in order, and with some executives no doubt scanning the horizon for less turbulent jobs, the names listed provide a guide to some of the Facebook leaders whose movements are being watched attentively by insiders.
After being provided with the list of names, Facebook spokesperson Anthony Harrison provided the following statement: "This story is based on complete speculation. None of the people you mentioned to us are planning to leave Facebook."