UK Facebook exec resigns; joins London’s Tech City project

London, United Kingdom (4E) – Joanna Shields, one of Facebook’s top executives, has resigned and has decided to join the United Kingdom’s Tech City program. The UK Tech City program is modeled after the United States’s Silicon Valley. It aims to be the premier tech hub in the world. It is managed by the Tech City Investment Organization which aims to attract investors to East London and host tech start-ups.

Shields was the head of Facebook Europe. She is the former chief executive officer of Bebo, a social network which was sold to AOL. She also had a stint with Google.

“I am looking forward to leading the Tech City Investment Organisation in the next phase of its development. With the right boost now, there is no reason why we can’t make London the number one location for tech in the world,” Shields said in a statement.

Google, Cisco and Intel are some of the tech companies that have made investments in East London’s Tech City.

The Tech City program was launched by British Prime Minister David Cameron two years ago.

In a statement, Mr. Cameron said: “The success of Tech City shows just what can happen when we back some of our most innovative and aspiring companies to grow, helping the UK compete and thrive in the global race.”

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