Facebook has lured away another Google executive as it continues its march into major international markets.
The popular social networking service has hired Alexandre Hohagen, who helped establish Google’s presence in Latin America, to be its vice president for sales in the region.
In a recent interview, David Fischer, vice president of advertising and global operations, said the hire was part of an international expansion to reach markets and marketers everywhere.
“We are expanding globally,” Fischer said, noting that 70% of Facebook users hail from outside the United States.
Brazil has been a significant battleground for Facebook. It is the lone holdout where Google’s social networking service Orkut still looms larger than Facebook.
Facebook overtook Google in India last summer. Those were the only two markets that Orkut ruled since Google launched the service in 2004. Facebook is growing at a good clip in Brazil but still trails Orkut there.
Hohagen will be based in Brazil.
Facebook is making major moves in advertising, this month hiring away Microsoft’s global advertising head, Carolyn Everson, as its vice president of global sales.
“Carolyn will take us to the next level,” Fischer said. “She has great experience working with the top brands in the world.”
