Joel Kaplan, Meta's chief global affairs officer, is leaving the company after 15 years. Meta confirmed the departure, and Dina Powell McCormick will add external affairs to her portfolio.
Meta's chief global affairs officer, Joel Kaplan, is leaving the company, Business Insider reported. Axios first reported the news, and Meta confirmed it to Business Insider.
Timing of the exit
Business Insider says Kaplan will leave after the midterm elections and a transition period. Reuters, however, cites a Meta spokesperson who said Kaplan will leave next year after 15 years at the company.
The move comes ahead of the November 3 midterm elections, according to Reuters. Kaplan posted on X on Tuesday that he plans to spend time with his family and figure out what to do next.
Who takes over his duties
The Meta spokesperson told Reuters that President and Vice Chairman Dina Powell McCormick will add external affairs to her portfolio. Axios reported that other Meta executives will share his responsibilities.
Reuters adds that McCormick was part of the Donald Trump administration during his first stint as US president.
A career built on Washington ties
Kaplan joined Meta in 2011. There, he oversaw the company's response to policy issues ranging from the Cambridge Analytica scandal to the end of its fact-checking program. He has served as chief global affairs officer since 2025, succeeding former UK politician Nick Clegg.
Business Insider says Kaplan helped repair a once-fraught relationship between CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Trump after Meta temporarily suspended Trump's account following the January 6 riot. Reuters notes that Kaplan was elevated to the top policy role as Meta rolled back US fact-checking, ended diversity initiatives and sought closer ties with Trump.
Kaplan is a Republican who served as an advisor and deputy chief of staff to former president George W. Bush, according to Business Insider.
Sources: Business Insider, Reuters via Investing.com
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