Sandberg Departs Google For FaceBook

While Microsoft has been dogging Yahoo and Google keeps a close eye on the proceedings, FaceBook has been quietly continuing to build its empire online presence. Earlier this week it announced its new German site. now it is releasing the news that it has snagged one of Google's executive staff.

Sheryl Sandberg has been Google's Vice President of Global Online Sales and Operations for the past six years. In her new role with FaceBook she will be in charge of marketing, human resources, business development and other day to day business operations. Prior to working with Google she held a post as the US Treasury Secretary's chief of staff.

With the introduction of FaceBook sites in multiple countries around the world and the addition of Sandberg, FaceBook's global business strategy has never been more clear. The company has a sweeping mission statement of having “everyone connected”, and it seems they aim to make it come true in the most literal sense.

Having everyone connected has been on the tip of everyone's tongue this week. FaceBook has not yet introduced a true mobile application, and it seems Yahoo may have beaten them to the punch with their ultra invasive reality mining mobile program m.mybloglog.com. My guess is FaceBook won't we far behind in bringing its connected philosophy to the web, and Sandberg is there to help them do just those types of things.

One thing Sandberg is expected to do is take the college party atmosphere of FaceBook and give it a head for business. Investors love the social network, but they often come under fire for the seat-of-the-pants way the company continues to be run. Sandberg should be able to bring order to the young company, and that order should help them find staying power in a fickle web business world.