Diminishing Returns

“Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook Inc.'s 23-year-old chief executive, is finding that he and his company have to grow up at Internet speed. The latest sign: He has poached a top Google Inc. executive, Sheryl Sandberg, to help expand his social-networking company.

“Ms. Sandberg, a six-year Google veteran who has been the search giant's vice president of global online sales and operations, will become Facebook's chief operating officer. In that role, the 38-year- old executive will try to help expand the privately held company's operations, revenue and international reach. She will also lead sales, business development, public policy and communication. Ms. Sandberg will report directly to Mr. Zuckerberg, who has been searching for a second-in-command for several months.

“Ms. Sandberg's appointment comes as Mr. Zuckerberg is trying to adjust to being head of a company that is quickly outgrowing its position as one of Silicon Valley's hottest startups while preparing himself to be able to lead it to Google-like international heft...

“In early December, the CEO had a conversation with one of his mentors, Silicon Valley investor Roger McNamee, in which he admitted he was having a tough time with some new pressures he was facing as chief. ‘Is being a CEO always this hard?’ he asked…

“Ms. Sandberg joins a roster of recent Facebook hires that includes Chief Financial Officer Gideon Yu, formerly CFO at YouTube, and Vice President of Product Marketing and Operations Chamath Palihapitiya, a former head of AOL's instant-messaging business. Mr. Zuckerberg is also seeking to hire a new general counsel and a vice president of communications and public policy...

“Part of the struggle for quickly maturing startups is that founders don't want to lose their stamp on the company -- something they fear may happen if they hand the reins to a hired CEO. Mr. Zuckerberg says he is trying to build Facebook on his own terms, and indicated recently that he doesn't want another No. 1 in the company. Owen Van Natta, chief revenue officer who previously held the role of Facebook COO, last month said he was leaving the company. The departure was related to Mr. Van Natta's ambitions to be CEO of a company, a title Mr. Zuckerberg isn't willing to relinquish, both men say.

“In Ms. Sandberg… Mr. Zuckerberg is seeking an experienced hand who can also enable him to hold on to the reins. ‘It's going to be very valuable for me to have a partner [to help] me to think about how to do operations, especially as the organization grows very large and as we scale internationally,’ says Mr. Zuckerberg.”

(“Facebook CEO Seeks Help as Site Grows Up; Google Veteran to Be Zuckerberg's No. 2; Search for Revenue.” Vauhini Vara. Wall Street Journal: March 5, 2008. pg. A.1)

BILL GATES? Steve Jobs? Michael Dell? Sergey Brin? Larry Page? Or... how about Jerry Yang? Who is your role model?

One of the enduring strengths of the modern corporate form is its impersonal longevity beyond the scope of its founders, owners, managers, employees and customers.

Remember the Beatles swan song -- "I Me Mine"?