Ex-AOL man takes charge of UK research for Facebook

Trevor Johnson joins social network firm in new marketing and research role

Facebook has taken on AOL Europe’s former head of consumer insights Trevor Johnson in a new UK-based b2b role covering research.

Johnson left AOL earlier this year when his role was made redundant. At Facebook he will head up trade marketing and market development, including research. Based in London, he will initially have responsibility for the UK.

Facebook’s UK operation was set up last year with the appointment of former Yahoo commercial director Blake Chandley as sales director.

Johnson said that the details of what he’ll be doing are likely to develop over time. He told Research: “Obviously we have a lot of data and information on what people do and who they are. That’s all up for grabs. For Facebook it’s a new opportunity to start doing new things which take social media a step forward.”

With 70 million active members – predominantly in typically hard-to-reach youth demographics – Facebook has huge potential for research. In June last year the firm began offering third parties the chance to conduct polls on the site, and brands can now set up their own profile pages to promote themselves and gather feedback.

(Robert Bain, Research Live)

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