Meta Drops Hunt for Democrat as Top Lobbyist, Keeps Republican
- Republican Kevin Martin to stay as head of U.S. public policy
- Company once known as Facebook faces congressional scrutiny
Visitors take photographs in front of signage at Meta Platforms headquarters in Menlo Park, California.
Photographer: Nick Otto/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
Meta Platforms Inc. has abandoned its search for a Democrat to lead its U.S. public policy team, keeping Republican Kevin Martin in the role as the company formerly known as Facebook tries to distance itself from recent controversies and shape the next iteration of the internet.
Meta had been looking for a Democrat to balance the ranks of Republicans leading the social media giant’s lobbying shop. Martin, who was head of the Federal Communications Commission under former President George W. Bush, had been tapped to lead the company’s global economic policy team.