Preparing to gear up for more deals, Facebook has hired Amin Zoufonoun, a director of corporate development at Google, to lead its M&A efforts. Zoufonoun, who led acquisitions including On2,
Grandcentral (Google Voice), Feedburner and Simplify Media at Google, is expected to join Facebook next week, according to Reuters. Facebook acquired 10 companies last year, its most to date,
including HotPotato and Chai Labs. Most recently, it snapped up mobile marketing start-up Beluga. More deals are expected this year as the rivalry between Facebook and Google heats up to capture ever
larger online audiences and ad market share. Among other executives Facebook has recruited from Google are COO Sheryl Sandburg, David Fischer, VP of advertising and global operations, and mobile head
Erick Tseng. To pursue more acquisitions, Zoufonoun is also expected to expand Facebook's fledgling M&A group. That means more potential Google defections.
--Mark Walsh
