More Than ‘Just’ No. 2

524

June 6, 2022

Published in Frankfurter Rundschau
(Germany) on 2 June 2022
by Andreas Niesmann (link to original link to original)

Translated from by Kirsty Low. Edited by Helaine Schweitzer.

Facebook veteran Sheryl Sandberg is stepping down from her position as chief operating officer of Facebook’s parent company, Meta. Mark Zuckerberg is becoming more powerful, but he is under enormous pressure. A commentary.

The departure of chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg is not just a bang but an earthquake that is sending shock waves through Facebook parent company Meta. She was more than “just” founder Mark Zuckerberg’s No. 2. She was the woman who made the company as big as it is today and taught Zuckerberg how to make money.

However, in recent years, the relationship between the “Bergs” has apparently cooled significantly. Internally, “Zuck” supposedly blamed “Sand” for scandals such as the one involving political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. Sandberg will retain her seat on Meta’s board, but that does not change the fact that Zuckerberg is becoming more powerful. Nevertheless, the founder, chief executive officer and majority shareholder must prove that he can reinvent his company.

Shareholders have clearly lost faith in his ability to do so. After the announcement of Sandberg’s resignation, Meta’s share price dipped further. The company has lost approximately half of its stock market value since September. Sinking share prices are now one of the last remaining constants in the “metaverse.”

Mehr als „nur“ Nummer zwei

Facebook-Urgestein Sheryl Sandberg tritt als Geschäftsführerin des Mutterkonzerns Meta zurück. Mark Zuckerberg wird noch mächtiger – aber steht enorm unter Druck. Der Kommentar.

Der Rückzug von Co-Chefin Sheryl Sandberg ist nicht nur ein Knall, es ist ein Beben, das den Facebook-Konzern Meta erschüttert. Sie war mehr als „nur“ die Nummer zwei von Gründer Mark Zuckerberg. Sie war die Frau, die den Konzern groß gemacht und ihm das Geldverdienen beigebracht hat.

In den vergangenen Jahren allerdings soll sich das Verhältnis der „Bergs“ stark abgekühlt haben. „Zuck“ soll „Sand“ intern für Skandale wie den um die Analysefirma Cambridge Analytica verantwortlich gemacht haben. Sandberg bleibt dem Unternehmen zwar als Aufsichtsrätin erhalten, das ändert aber wenig daran, dass Zuckerberg nun noch mächtiger geworden ist. Der Gründer, Chef und Mehrheitsaktionär muss allerdings beweisen, dass er sein Unternehmen ein zweites Mal erfinden kann.

Die Anteilseigner haben den Glauben daran offenbar längst verloren. Nach der Bekanntgabe der Personalie gab die Meta-Aktie weiter nach. Rund die Hälfte seines Börsenwertes hat das Unternehmen seit September verloren. Die sinkenden Kurse sind inzwischen fast schon die letzte Konstante im „Metaversum“.

This post appeared on the front page as a direct link to the original article with the above link .

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