Meta Platforms Inc. Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, whose close partnership with Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg powered the growth of the world's biggest social network, is leaving the company after 14 years, Sandberg wrote in a Facebook post Wednesday.
The announcement initially sent the social media firm's shares down 4%, but the stock was nearly flat in after hours trade.
Sandberg's departure marks an end of an era for Facebook-owner Meta, which is shifting its focus toward hardware products and the "metaverse" after years of scandals over privacy abuses and the spread of conspiratorial content on its platforms.