John Pint, head of communications at Facebook's parent company Meta Platforms, has left the company. A Meta spokesperson said in an email Saturday: "We thank John for his positive contribution during a tense and important period in the company's history. I hope he has all the best in the future.". The spokesman did not say why Pinet left.

According to the Wall Street Journal,Pinet revealed the news to employees in a Friday afternoon post, saying it would be his last working day.The post said: "I know the team will continue to thrive because you guys do some of the most important – and most difficult – jobs in the communications department. "

Pinet has been in charge of communications since 2019, having previously led Google's communications efforts in Asia. He also worked for Bill & Middot Gates and Vulcan, the company of Microsoft and the late Microsoft co-founder Paul & Allen.

Meta and its Facebook and Instagram social networks have been the subject of intense external scrutiny after former Facebook employee Frances Haugen leaked a batch of internal documents that show company researchers are well aware of the dangers the platform poses to specific groups of people. Late last year, the leak sparked a series of high-profile media reports, and Haugen testified before Congress.

A meta spokesperson told Reuters that chris Norton, vice president of international communications, will currently take over Pinette's former role.