Facebook UK reshuffles leadership team
Two of Facebook’s most senior marketer and agency contacts, pan-European director Christian Hernandez and UK commercial director Stephen Haines, are leaving the UK office, prompting a reshuffle of the social network’s leadership team in the region.
Hernandez, who joined the social network in 2009 to lead its EMEA platform partnerships team and in 2012 took on his current role, is leaving “to pursue an exciting new venture in the entrepreneurial world”. He has sat on Seedcamp’s board of advisors since 2011 and has a long track record of investing in start-ups.
Stephen Haines is moving to the social network’s New York office to become global lead for Facebook’s Omnicom network relationship.
Haines has been with Facebook UK for almost six years, having previously held the UK sales director role.
James Quarles, who is currently Facebook’s Southern Europe regional director, will lead the UK’s client and agency relationships in the UK in the interim.
Facebook has recruited Claire Valoti from mobile advertising and payment joint venture Weve to take on some of Haines’ UK agency relationship responsibilities working alongside Ed Couchman who joined Facebook last year from Channel 4. She is not a direct replacement for Haines, for whom Facebook is seeking a long-term replacement.
Agency sources say the reshuffle suggests Facebook is looking to ensure its staff are playing to their “key strengths” when it comes to prioritising its agency relationships.
The changes come ahead of Karmarma executive chairman and former IPA president Nicola Mendelsohn joining as Facebook’s vice president for Europe at the end of this month.
