A source told VentureBeat that Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg will be staying with the social media giant. The speculation that Sandberg would be leaving Facebook to head the Walt Disney Company after Chief Executive Officer Bob Iger's contract ends in two years came after the New York Post reported on March 11, 2014 that she was eyed for the job. The report also said that talks about the post were going on and that Sandberg was reportedly considering it.
However, the source who is close to Sandberg said there was no truth to the speculation. The person told VentureBeat, "There have been no conversations with Disney. It's not true. It's a false rumor." Sandberg is a member of the Board of Directors of Disney, the report said.
Sandberg joined the social media firm in 2008 and was instrumental in making it profitable. She does not devote her time exclusively to Facebook, however, and has a lot of activities outside it. She recently wrote the national bestseller, "Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead." Last week, she also officially rolled out her "Ban Bossy" campaign, an initiative aimed at helping women and girls get past the common description of being called "bossy." She said this label constrains the possibilities that are in store for women in the workplace.
According to the New York Post report on the matter, Iger's successor for Disney could either be Chief Financial Officer James "Jay" Rasulo or Parks Chief Thomas Staggs. Stags is believed to be the lead contender between the two but according to industry executives, the Disney board was considering others. The report quoted one source as saying, "They're not happy with the two main choices." Iger agreed to remain as the company's Chairman and CEO until July 2016. However, there are some who believe that he would be leaving the post sooner if the board would be able to get the right person for the job, the New York Post reported.
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