Global social media firm Snap Inc (commonly known as Snapchat) has parted ways with Head of HR Jason Halbert – the latest in a slew of senior members of staff to leave the company in recent months.
Halbert, who has led the HR department of the multi-national messaging platform since 2015, was reportedly let go because his “on-the-job behaviour made him an unlikely fit for the role” after complaints surfaced about his unprofessional work manner and questionable conversation points.
The HR Director, who reported directly to Snapchat’s CEO, Evan Spiegel, is the latest in a long succession of senior members of staff to leave the company within the past year. In November 2018, Head of Content Nick Bell announced his departure, whilst Chief Strategy Officer Imran Khan confirmed that he was also to leave in September.
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Other recent losses include the Vice President of Communications, Mary Ritti, Product Lead, Tom Conrad and Head of Global Strategic Partnerships, Elizabeth Herbst-Brady.
Snapchat’s diminishing staff base has gone hand-in-hand with a steep decline in both user base and finances. The company’s stock has shed nearly 50% of its value since its IPO in 2017 and took its most recent dive when it confirmed that its CFO Tim Stone would be stepping down in mid-January.
Halpert’s actions were far from the only questionable activity taking place at Snapchat; former engineer Shannon Lubetich recently told The Telegraph that the company cultivated a “toxic” culture and “pervading sexist vibe”.
Responding to the accusations, the company resolved to remedy the issues laid out by its employees, starting with its controversial diversity figures – women make up just 13% of its technical workforce, whilst just 22% of upper management are female.
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Lubetich reportedly penned an impassioned letter to the company’s engineering department on her last day urging the team to perpetuate a “kind, smart and creative workplace culture,” which sparked discussions in upper management.
“We’ve worked hard to make Snap a place where everyone feels respected and everyone can grow,” Jerry Hunter, Snap’s Senior Vice President of Engineering, told online news outlet Cheddar.
“I’m excited about the progress that we have made this year, but I know that we certainly have more work to do.”
Shap Inc will release its first quarter earnings on February 5 2019.
