hires, greg joswiak, sheryl sandberg, facebook, marc andreessen, mark zuckerberg

Zuckerberg looks for his Eric Schmidt

Mark Zuckerberg wants to hire a well-known executive to help him run Facebook, BoomTown reports. It's like when Google founders Brin and Page hired a then-obscure Eric Schmidt away from Novell, except Zuckerberg wants to keep the CEO title. "It has to be someone who does not overshadow Mark," a source told BoomTown, "But also someone who can challenge him when he needs challenging."

On BoomTown, Kara Swisher rattles off two dozen or so possibilities before settling on Netscape founder Marc Andreessen. It's an odd choice. Consider the companies Andreessen founded: Netscape is dead, Opsware was bought, and Ning builds social networks for porn sites. None of these are fates Zuckerberg would wish for Facebook. Practically speaking, I'd go for someone running a revenue machine proven to work at a public company, like Apple marketing czar Greg Joswiak or Google's Sheryl Sandberg. For sheer entertainment value, though, we nominate former Pay By Touch CEO John Rogers.

9:20 AM on Fri Feb 22 2008
By Nicholas Carlson
2,965 views
15 comments

Comments

SVreader at 09:30 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

"I need an adult!"
ashkan at 09:42 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

Funny you mention Google's Sheryl Sandberg, I called for Facebook's Board and Mark to bring in a female CEO.
macbeach at 10:23 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

I think Zuckerberg badly needs to be overshadowed. Google did it right in that regard.
pepelicious at 10:25 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

Does Mark need a big brother?
lex99 at 10:25 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

Wow, ashkan, if they *do* pick a female CEO, you totally deserve credit!
Alaska Miller at 10:45 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 190
Brought to you by Acura TSX

Someone who can challenge him when he needs challenging. Spank him when he needs spanking. Tucking in at night when he needs to be tucked in. And given a bottle when he's thirsty.
dengelbery at 10:58 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

I think his momma would totally fit the bill.
Rick at 11:20 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

@macbeach: yeah, and andreesen totally would. He's about 100 times slicker
michaellamb at 11:44 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

lol @lex99
yhoonomore at 11:50 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

how about those two douche bags from theglobe.com
matto at 11:58 AM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

Awe, so cute, Zuerkerberg wants an Ovitz
ashkan at 12:19 PM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

Actually, I want credit on that amazing Beacon initiative...
ashkan at 12:41 PM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

On a more serious note, in the 21 minutes since my last post, I wrote this ditty on why no one will want the job:

[watchmojo.com]

and why Facebook won't even know what to look for.

Enjoy.
flyover at 08:34 PM on 02/22/08
Reply by Email
*

@Rick: Definitely taller.
Nicholas Carlson at 04:41 PM on 03/04/08
Reply by Email
*
Connectedness Index: 221
Brought to you by Acura TSX

Called it!