Cambridge Analyticas acting CEO Alex Tayler has named a new chief executive to take over as he steps down, according to the Wall Street Journal.
The company had announced in a statement on Wednesday that Tayler, who took over after Alexander Nixs suspension last month, stepped down from the position and would “resume his former position as chief data officer.”
Tayler told the companys leadership that Julian Wheatland, the chairman of Cambridge Analyticas British affiliate, would take over as the next chief executive, the Wall Street Journal reported. Wheatland has been chairman of the SCL Group for nine years, according to his LinkedIn page. He has also been mentioned by critics who accuse the British Conservative Party of being cosy with Cambridge Analytica and its affiliates because he posted a selfie in 2015 on the campaign trail with former Prime Minister David Cameron.
The shift comes as the firm continues to face a firestorm of criticism over possible misuse of Facebook data that exposed an estimated 87 million users data on the social media platform.
On March 20, the company moved to suspend Nix after an undercover report by Channel 4 News showed the CEO boasting about the firms use of secretive campaign tactics to influence elections. Nixs remarks do not “represent the values or operations of the firm,” Cambridge Analytica said in a statement.
As the firm again announced a reshuffling among its leadership structure, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg continued his second day of testimony before Congress over his companys role in the breach.
Zuckerberg told legislators Wednesday that he was among the millions of Facebook users whose data was sold to third parties, but he did not say whether his information was swept up by Cambridge Analytica.
“We would like to thank Dr. Tayler for his service in what has been a challenging time for the company,” Cambridge Analyticas board of directors said in a statement.
Reprising his past role, Tayler will “focus on the various technical investigations and inquiries,” they added.
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