Facebook Shakeup

Facebook Inc Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg on

Tuesday ordered one of the biggest management

shakeups in the history of the social network, giving

more responsibility to his chief product officer and

launching a blockchain division.

The shakeup appeared to consolidate power at the

sprawling internet company, although it included no

firings or outside hires and did not change the role

of either Zuckerberg or Chief Operating Officer Sheryl

Sandberg.

Chris Cox, the chief product officer in charge of the

flagship Facebook service, will now also oversee the

widely used services Instagram, Messenger and

WhatsApp, the company said.

WhatsApp has been given a relatively free hand since

2014, when Facebook bought it for $22 billion, but in

recent months its two co-founders have announced their

resignations, opening the door to closer integration.

Two other executives, Chief Technology Officer Mike

Schroepfer and Vice President of Growth Javier Olivan,

will oversee other consolidated divisions, one related to

“new platforms and infrastructure” and another for

centralized services such as the ads system.