Meta Platforms Inc. is set to lose its senior-most business executive for the Asia-Pacific region, Dan Neary, an industry veteran who has played a pivotal role in the company’s growth in several key international markets over the past decade. Neary, who has served as the vice president for the region since 2013, announced his departure in an internal message, citing personal reasons, as confirmed by a Meta spokesperson on Thursday.
In a statement to Bloomberg News, Neary expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to lead Meta’s business in APAC. He mentioned that he would remain with the company for a few months to assist in the transition until a successor is appointed, after which he plans to take a break and explore future opportunities.
Under Neary’s leadership, Facebook experienced significant growth in Asia, according to Simon Kemp, chief analyst at DataReportal. A decade ago, the region represented about 35% of Facebook’s global advertising reach; this figure has now risen to nearly 50%, equating to approximately 1.1 billion accounts. During this time, Instagram and WhatsApp also saw rapid expansion across Asia, with Facebook becoming a primary platform for communication and media consumption in countries like Thailand.
Before joining Meta, Neary held prominent positions, including vice president and general manager of global market development at Skype and vice president of emerging markets at eBay Inc., as noted on his LinkedIn profile.
His announcement comes just a day after he shared insights on Meta’s latest AI solutions for clients, coinciding with the company’s efforts to compete with firms like OpenAI and DeepMind in the rapidly evolving AI sector. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has indicated to investors that he expects to invest hundreds of billions of dollars in AI infrastructure, applying the technology across various applications, from Instagram and Facebook to virtual reality products.
A Meta spokesperson praised Neary for elevating the company’s business in the region to remarkable heights, consistently delivering strong results throughout his tenure.
