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Nick Clegg, president of global affairs at Meta, is leaving the social media platform and will be replaced by Joel Kaplan, a Republican known for monitoring the company's relationship with conservatives.
In a post on Meta's Facebook page on Thursday, Cleggthe former leader of the Liberal Democrats and UK deputy prime minister, said he was leaving the company after seven years. He added that he would spend “a few months handing out cables” and representing Facebook at international conferences before moving on to “new things”.
Kaplan previously served as deputy chief of staff at the White House during the George W Bush administration, and is known for handling the company's relationship with Republicans.
In the past, Facebook has dismissed claims that certain figures including Kaplan used political influence in its decision-making process and political manipulation.
The move comes just weeks before Donald Trump—who has repeatedly accused Meta and other platforms for diagnosing and silencing conservative speech – is set to return to the White House.
Some Big Tech executives who previously had a cozy relationship with the Republican leader have taken steps to sue the president-elect. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has dined with Trump at his Florida estate at Mar-a-Lago since the US election and congratulated him on his victory. Semafor first reported the change.