Meta’s Vivek Sharma, the corporate’s VP of its Horizon social VR platform, is leaving the corporate, as reported by way of Reuters. Meta spokesperson Bryan Pope showed Sharma’s departure to The Verge and mentioned that Sharma is leaving to pursue an unrelated occupation alternative.

Sharma’s departure is occurring at a fairly awkward time for Horizon. The metaverse is a gigantic wager for Meta, with Horizon as one in every of its centerpieces, however the entire effort was one thing of a meme ultimate week. To assist advertise Horizon Worlds’ release in France and Spain, CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted a screenshot in Horizon that prominently featured his dead-eyed avatar, which just about in an instant was a well-liked shaggy dog story across the web. Zuckerberg shared idea artwork of a extra detailed avatar a couple of days later, however the injury had already been executed. There’s even a Snapchat clear out parodying Zuckerberg’s meme-ified glance.

The meme second and Sharma’s departure are most likely simplest small blips for the corporate’s metaverse ambitions. Meta is charging ahead with new {hardware}, together with a brand new VR headset that Zuckerberg simply the previous day mentioned could be launching in October. And this week, the corporate offered its new Meta accounts that mean you can use a Quest headset with no need to log in to Fb. However the metaverse is proving to be a expensive project to this point. Closing quarter, the corporate’s Fact Labs department reported shedding $2.8 billion.

Sharma’s group will now report back to Vishal Shah, Meta’s metaverse VP, Pope mentioned.

“We’re grateful for Vivek’s contributions throughout our Market, gaming and metaverse groups over the past six years and we would like him smartly,” Pope mentioned in a remark. “Because of his management, the Horizon product crew has constructed a robust group with an bold imaginative and prescient and it is only getting began. Meta is still a supply for growing nice leaders, and we’re excited to peer what Vivek accomplishes in his subsequent bankruptcy.” Sharma didn’t straight away respond to a request for remark.