Facebook doubles headcount with help from the recession

LONDON - Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg plans to double the headcount at the social network this year to 2000 people.

Mark Zuckerberg plans to hire more staff for Facebook
Mark Zuckerberg plans to hire more staff for Facebook

Zuckerberg, in an interview with Bloomberg, said that Facebook is taking advantage of other companies' incapacity to hire new staff during the recession, to snap up engineers.

"No one else has been hiring," said Zuckerberg. "It's been a great environment for us because the economy has helped out."

The recession doesn't seem to be bothering Zuckerberg and co right now. While more established companies dependent on advertising have struggled, the Facebook chief executive has been busy convincing brands to advertise on Facebook and has been largely successful.

Revenues at Facbook are expected to be up 70 per cent in 2009, compared to 2008 and the company has cashflow to hire and make acquisitions akin to the recent purchase of FriendFeed for $50m.

Meanwhile the social network's valuation has remained high. The $200 million invested in Facebook for 2 per cent equity by Russian company Digital Sky Technoligies values Facebook at $10 billion.

But Zuckerberg said that the social network doesn't intend to plough the cash into investment but rather sees it as a buffer to be called upon only when required.

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