Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg has been named the first female to join the company's board of directors.
The announcement was made today. Sandberg has been the COO of Facebook since 2008. Prior to Facebook, Sandberg was vice president of global online sales and operations at Google.
"Sheryl has been my partner in running Facebook and has been central to our growth and success over the years," said Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of Facebook, in a press release. "Her understanding of our mission and long-term opportunity, and her experience both at Facebook and on public company boards makes her a natural fit for our board."
Related story: "Sheryl Sandberg, the Woman Behind Facebook's Business Model"
Sandberg was was named as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people in the world in 2012.
"Facebook is working every day to make the world more open and connected," Sandberg said in a statement. "It's a mission that I'm deeply passionate about, and I feel fortunate to be part of a company that is having such a profound impact in the world."
Sandberg also serves on the boards of The Walt Disney Company, Women for Women International, the Center for Global Development and V-Day, according to a press release.
