Facebook COO friends Disney board

Posted Dec 23rd 2009 6:00PM by Tom Taulli
Filed under: Walt Disney (DIS)

The Walt Disney Company (DIS) has a high-caliber board of directors, which includes heavyweights like Apple, Inc.'s (AAPL) Steve Jobs. Having solid leadership has been critical for the company's growth, which is not easy when dealing with the whims of kids.

So, this week Disney added another top operator to its board: the COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg. While she has held the post since only March 2008, her Internet savvy is much deeper. For example, she managed the highly successful AdWords and AdSense programs at Google Inc. (GOOG).

Interestingly enough, Sandberg also has government experience; she served as the chief of staff to the US Treasury Secretary (during the Clinton Administration).

In other words, Sandberg has a unique skill set that spans from online advertising, public policy and social networking. In light of all this, I'm sure she gets many offers for board seats as well as senior-level jobs. In fact, she already serves as a director for Starbucks Corporation (SBUX).

Of course, this board appointment is a clear signal that social media is a strategic priority for Disney. After all, millions of kids are tapping away on their cell phones, spending lots of time on places like Facebook. So, Sandberg should be a key for Disney's digital strategy.

Tom Taulli advises on business tax preparation and resolving tax problems. He is also the author of a variety of books, including the including The Complete M&A Handbook. His website is at Taulli.com.

Tags: adsense, adwords, Facebook, featured, sheryl sandberg, SherylSandberg, steve jobs, SteveJobs