Facebook’s Top PR Exec Is Leaving the Toughest Job in Tech

Following more than two years of constant turbulence for Facebook, the company’s vice president of communications, Caryn Marooney, is leaving the company, Facebook has confirmed. Marooney, who previously cofounded the technology communications firm The Outcast Agency, joined Facebook in 2011 as director of technology communications, after representing the company at Outcast. Most recently, she has been responsible for all global communications. Marooney's final day is not yet set, but spokesperson Vanessa Chan said she would be staying on to bring her replacement on board.

"She's been at Facebook for eight years on the payroll," and worked with the company even before that at Outcast, Chan said. "It's been a really, really long time. I think she just wants to take a step back." In 2016, Marooney became head of global communications, a position, she told WIRED, that she accepted while battling cancer. Facebook is now looking internally and externally for her replacement.

Marooney’s departure is just the latest in a string of shakeups at Facebook's communications department over the past year. In early 2018, the entire company underwent a major executive reorganization. As part of the changes, Marooney began splitting her duties with Rachel Whetsone, who had been hired away from Uber by Facebook the year before. In June, vice president of communications and public policy, Elliot Schrage, announced that he was stepping down from Facebook after a decade there, although he has not departed. Sir Nick Clegg, former deputy prime minister of the United Kingdom, was later hired to lead Facebook's global policy and communications. Whetstone announced she was leaving for a top job at Netflix in August. At that point, Marooney reassumed responsibility for all global communications, and was reporting to Clegg when she announced her departure Wednesday.