(USA Today) As Facebook’s stock price sinks and criticism mounts, an emerging parlor game in Silicon Valley is speculation on the job status of Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Shares for the social-networking company dipped 4% Friday to $19, half the May 18 IPO value, before closing at $19.05.
So far, there are no signs of open revolt among major Facebook shareholders beyond a few class-action lawsuits over its botched initial public offering. But some openly wonder if it might be time for Zuckerberg to step aside as CEO.
“He is unquestionably a genius at starting a company, but that does not necessarily translate into running a public company,” says securities attorney Andrew Stoltmann. If Facebook’s problems persist, its board of directors may consider a change at the top, he says.