Former UK Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg is leaving his position as president of Meta’s global affairs, a role he has held since 2018. Clegg's departure was confirmed recently, with Republican Joel Kaplan set to take his place.

In his announcement, Clegg stated, “As a new year begins, I have come to the view that this is the right time for me to move on" and reflected on his tenure as an “adventure of a lifetime” at a pivotal time for the company, which was navigating the fallout from the Cambridge Analytica scandal during his initial phase.

When Clegg joined Meta, then known as Facebook, it was a period marked by intense scrutiny and complications related to privacy issues. During his time, he emphasized the importance of bridging the gap between technology and politics, recognizing the “quickening pace” of the evolution within the tech industry.

Kaplan, who has been a part of Meta since 2011, previously served as deputy chief of staff for policy under former President George W. Bush. He is viewed by Clegg as "ideally placed to shape the company’s strategy as societal and political expectations around technology continue to evolve." Kaplan's appointment happens at a time when Donald Trump is poised for a potential resurgence in American politics, having been elected president again.

While Kaplan has a reputable record, he has faced scrutiny regarding his alignment with conservative policies within the company, including allegations of bias in content moderation practices. A whistleblower's revelations in 2021 led to claims that he had made exceptions to Facebook’s content rules for political figures aligned with the Republican Party.

As part of the transition, Clegg will spend the next few months overseeing the handover to Kaplan and has expressed confidence in Kaplan's ability to lead Meta through upcoming societal shifts. Mark Zuckerberg, Meta’s CEO, has shown support for both Clegg's contributions and Kaplan’s future role, stating, “I’m excited for Joel to step into this role next, given his deep experience and insight leading our policy work for many years.”

This change in leadership comes amid increasing efforts by tech companies, including Meta, to foster favorable relations with the Republican Party in light of Trump’s anticipated administration changes. Throughout his tenure, Clegg has focused on managing the dynamic relationship between big tech and governmental expectations.

For further details, read the full articles on The Independent and South China Morning Post.