Facebook’s chief technology officer is leaving the company after 13 years

Facebook is about to close an important chapter in its history. CNBCreports the social network’s chief technology officer, Mike Schroepfer, is stepping down from his role after a total 13 years at the company. He’ll move to a part-time position as Facebook’s first Senior Fellow at some point in 2022, when he’ll help foster talent and improve the development process. The move will let Schroepfer spend more time with his family and philanthropy, according to the CTO’s social post.

Hardware lead Andrew “Boz” Bosworth will gradually replace Schroepfer as CTO in 2022. The departing executive made clear that his exit was voluntary — it was a “difficult decision” for someone still excited about Facebook’s prospects, he said. Accordingly, company chief Mark Zuckerberg said Schroepfer played a “critical role” and was a “close friend.”

Schroepfer first joined Facebook in 2008 as a vice president of engineering. He took the CTO position in 2013.

Bosworth’s ascension makes sense for a company increasingly focused on hardware like smart glasses, VR headsets and Portal displays. It’s not without some controversy, however. The soon-to-be CTO has authored controversial internal memos in the past, including a 2016 memo seemingly justifying growth …read more