Meta Platforms (META) has poached rival Microsoft’s (MSFT) top legal executive.
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In a news release, Meta said that it hired Curtis Joseph (C.J.) Mahoney to become its chief legal officer. It appears to be a game of musical chairs as Mahoney replaces Meta’s previous head lawyer Jennifer Newstead, who is leaving Meta to become Apple’s (AAPL) general counsel.
C.J. Mahoney joins Meta Platforms at a time when the company is facing a wave of child-safety lawsuits in the U.S. That includes an ongoing case in New Mexico in which the state’s attorney general alleges that Meta failed to protect children from sexual abuse and human trafficking on its apps, which include Facebook and Instagram.
Meta’s Legal Woes
“C.J. brings world-class legal expertise, passion for frontier technology, and deep insight into the global regulatory challenges facing our industry,” said Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg in the release. “I’m looking forward to working with him to advance Meta’s mission to build the future of human connection.”
Mahoney joins Meta Platforms from Microsoft, where he served as a corporate vice president and general counsel for product, services, and go-to-market legal. Before entering the private sector, he was a deputy U.S. trade representative during President Donald Trump’s first term in office. Mahoney has been at Microsoft since 2021.
Is META Stock a Buy?
The stock of Meta Platforms has a consensus Strong Buy rating among 44 Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on 37 Buy, six Hold, and one Sell recommendations issued in the last three months. The average META price target of $828.71 implies 25.44% upside from current levels.
