By Promoting Clegg, Meta Mimics Microsoft as It Braces for New Political Battles

Meta Platforms President Nick Clegg in 2017, before he joined the company. Photo by Bloomberg

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Facebook owner Meta Platforms on Wednesday tried to send a message to regulators and lawmakers who have trained their sights on the company: Nick Clegg, a former deputy British prime minister, is the person they should haul before the cameras, not CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

By promoting Clegg, who was leading communications and policy for the company, to president of global affairs, Zuckerberg is also taking a cue from his mentors at Microsoft, which years ago elevated its general counsel Brad Smith to president in charge of dealing with governments. After Meta hired Clegg three years ago, Zuckerberg spoke to Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and to Smith about the high-profile role Smith holds at Microsoft, The Information reported.