Sheryl Sandberg formally stepped down from her put up as Meta COO in August, however the firm will proceed to pay for her private safety into 2023, Reuters studies. The board, citing “continuing threats to her safety,” agreed to pay for safety providers from October 1st by means of June thirtieth, 2023, with safety obtainable to Sandberg at her residences and whereas she is touring. 

It is unclear what threats Sandberg has been receiving that may warrant the corporate paying for persevering with safety after she has resigned. We have requested Meta for remark and can replace this story if the corporate chooses to elaborate.

Sheryl Sandberg joined Meta in 2008, and her final official day as an worker was September thirtieth. Going ahead, she’s going to proceed to serve on Meta’s board and obtain compensation as a non-employee director. Although Sandberg apparently resigned of her personal volition, her remaining chapter on the firm was marred by private scandal. Earlier this yr, The Wall Street Journal reported that Sandberg used firm sources to assist kill detrimental reporting about Activision CEO Bobby Kotick, who she was mentioned to be courting on the time. 

Two months later, the Journal also reported that Meta had launched an inside investigation into Sandberg’s use of firm sources, and that the inquiry truly prolonged again “several years.” In addition to the allegations about defending Kotick from detrimental press, Sandberg was additionally reportedly being investigated for presumably utilizing firm funds to pay for her 2022 wedding. Meta attorneys have been additionally reportedly wanting into whether or not and the way Facebook workers helped Sandberg and her basis, Lean In, promote her newest ebook, Option B.

Sandberg’s remaining years on the job have been additionally marked by a sequence of firm crises, together with the 2019 Cambridge Analytica scandal; allegations of enabling genocide in Myanmar; shrinking income earlier this yr; and a change final yr in iOS’s method to third-party app monitoring that undercut the core of Meta’s enterprise mannequin. 

It is just not uncommon for Facebook to speculate closely on private safety for its high executives. In 2020, the corporate reportedly spent $23.4 million in 2020 to guard CEO Mark Zuckerberg. However, the board’s announcement on Friday comes days after Meta was reported to have suspended all hiring, with a warning of attainable layoffs on the best way, making for some probably awkward optics.