Facebook VP of global communications Joe Lockhart is stepping down a year and a half after moving to the social network.
AllThingsD reported that Lockhart’s desire to stay on the East Coast played a role in his exit from the Palo Alto-based company.
Lockhart, a White House press secretary for President Bill Clinton, founded PR and public affairs shop Glover Park Group, which was acquired by WPP last November. The firm has major operations in New York and Washington.
Glover Park has done work for Facebook. A FB spokeswoman suggested the company could still work with Lockhart after his exit.
Lockhart joined Facebook in July 2011 to oversee its corporate, policy and international comms. teams after the company was reportedly considering Obama press secretary Robert Gibbs for the slot.
Elliott Schrage, an attorney and Google vet, heads corporate communications and public policy for Facebook.