Facebook’s chief security officer is leaving to join Uber

Joe Sullivan has worked as Facebook’s Chief Security Officer for more than five years, but now he’s leaving the company to join Uber as the startup’s first-ever CSO. Having worked in security for eBay and PayPal for seven years and prosecuting cybercrime at the Department of Justice for eight years, it’s clear that Sullivan is very experienced in this field and is undoubtedly a good choice for Uber. 

Silicon Valley is home to some of the world’s brightest technical minds. And from Apple to Google, every big company covets the talent of its competitors. Now add Uber, the ride-hailing company, to that group. Uber said Thursday it had hired Joe Sullivan to be its first chief security officer, luring him from Facebook, where he held the same position for more than half of the social network’s existence. The appointment is a coup for Uber, as Mr. Sullivan is a veteran of the security industry. “This is a chance to help build the culture of a young and growing organization, and to continue building upon the safety and security initiatives that are the backbone of Uber’s success,” Mr. Sullivan, 46, said in a statement. The new hire underlines how Uber is fast becoming a prime recruiter in talent-starved Silicon Valley, where young tech companies are willing to pay higher salaries and offer greater perks to win over the best minds in the field.