Another setback to Facebook with the departure of top communications executive Rachel Whetstone

Rachel Whetstone, corporate communications lead at Facebook is leaving the company to join Netflix as the head of the PR team. Whetstone has replaced former Netflix communications head Jonathan Friedland, who was fired recently for allegedly passing some racial comments.  Prior to joining Facebook, Whetstone worked at Uber as a communications head. Rachel has also worked for Google as Senior Vice President of Communications until June 2015.

Rachel Whetstone is the latest high-profile executive to depart the social media giant. Facebook has lost some of its valuable members in the recent months including its Chief Security Officer, Alex Stamos.

Facebook confirms the news of Whetstone leaving the company. But she will continue working at Facebook for a couple of months until the company is ready for the transition. Caryn Marooney will return to solely run the whole communications department at Facebook again after Whetstone’s departure. Marooney had been running all the communications operations for Facebook over the past two years before Rachel joined. In Rachel’s tenure, both the top executives had to share the responsibilities; Marooney was heading product communications while Whetstone led the corporate communications. “We are grateful for what Rachel has brought to our team and we know she will have continued success at Netflix,” says Marooney.

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings welcomed Rachel in the Netflix family. “Rachel is a proven communications leader and a strong addition to the Netflix team,” he mentioned to praise her. “Her deep knowledge and international expertise will be invaluable as we bring Netflix and its expanding lineup of original content to an increasingly global audience,” he added.