Facebook Taps Former Microsoft Exec as Acting Aussie Chief

A permanent point man for Facebook in Australia should be appointed soon, the giant social media firm said on Monday following its confirmation that an interim head has been tapped to run the company's local operations on daily basis.

The Australian Financial Review (AFR) reported that former Microsoft executive Liam Walsh will take on the Facebook rudder until a permanent country CEO has been found, with the company disclosing too that head-hunting has been underway and the search could last through 2013.

In an exclusive interview with AFR, Facebook vice president for the Asia-Pacific region, Erik Johnson, admitted that no definite timeline has been set by the hugely popular social networking site for somebody to permanently guide Facebook's Australian presence after its country chief quit earlier this year.

"We clearly don't have a time frame around that ... We're not going to set an artificial deadline," Mr Johnson told AFR.

"It could go into next year, ideally not, but you never know," he added.

While Facebook would not comment on the likelihood that Mr Walsh would be eventually asked to stay on a permanent basis, the firm nonetheless noted that the current top man "is very much in charge of day-to-day operations and doing a great job."

Citing specific skills that Mr Walsh has listed on his LinkedIn account, News Ltd pointed to his impressive credentials such as "detailed knowledge of digital media marketplaces and specialise in building businesses, monetisation of web sites via advertising and running teams," underscoring his fit to run a social media firm.

Mr Walsh also outlined his expertise in accessing an "extensive local network, very good PR skills and contacts, strong ability to influence and outcomes focused," the media firm said.

Prior to his present job, the new Facebook executive worked with Fairfax Media and served as managing director of Microsoft Advertising for four years.

His appointment in an interim capacity came as Facebook faces greater pressure to better manage its Australian presence following allegations that social networking firm reacts too slow on correcting anomalies that directly involve its website, which is actively accessed by millions of Aussies each day.

At the last count, Facebook nears the one billion mark in total global users but its Australian numbers have been kept under wraps by the company, which simply stated that Facebook account holders in the country represent a significant pocket of its "most important market in the region."

Critics also hoped that with Mr Walsh's more defined role, notwithstanding the nature of his current appointment, Facebook would fine-tune its Australian approach in a manner that best fits the need of the hour.

Good starters would be quicker response on prevailing issues and wider coverage of management concerns that would deviate from the earlier focus pursued by Facebook's former country chief, analysts said.