Facebook hires former Apple design manager
Followed an eight-year stint with Apple, Chris Weeldreyer is now a new product design manager at the social network.
Facebook has grabbed its latest managerial hire from the ranks of Apple.
Chris Weeldreyer, a former user interface design manager for Apple, is now a product design manager for the popular social network. Weeldreyer joined Apple in 2003 before leaving the company this past February, according to his LinkedIn profile.
Facebook had been looking to fill the design manager slot with the right person to lead a team of designers.
The job has been advertised as primarly a management role. But the company also needed someone who could do hands-on design work.
"Candidates must have strong visual and interaction skills and the ability to help shape product strategy," the job ad stated. "Candidates that can build their own designs are preferable."
Among the skills listed on his LinkedIn page, Weeldreyer cites user interface design, user experience, interaction design, mobile applications, mobile application design, product development, and product design. So it sounds like he has the chops to take on the role.
The skillset in mobile applications and mobile application design may also have caught Facebook's eye.
The company has faced some challeges in the mobile market. Its mobile apps have been dinged for a certain lack of quality and user-friendliness. But more people than ever are using mobile devices to hop online. So, like other players, Facebook needs to figure out how to better thrive in that mobile world.