Investing

Manager of $200 billion pension fund deletes Facebook account, citing 'offensive' management

Key Points
  • In a tweet, Christopher Ailman says: "I have deactivated my Facebook account. Their lack of oversight and poor management is offensive. #DeleteFacebook."
  • Ailman's tweet comes as Facebook struggles with the news that Cambridge Analytica, a political analytics firm, was able to collect data on millions of people's profiles without their consent.
  • CalSTRS, which manages $224.4 billion in assets, owns $650.4 million in Facebook shares as of year-end 2017.
Christopher Ailman, chief investment officer of the California State Teachers Retirement System
Christopher Goodney | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Christopher Ailman, the chief investment officer of the California State Teachers' Retirement System (CalSTRS), said Wednesday he deleted his Facebook account because of the company's management.

In a tweet, he said: "I have deactivated my Facebook account. Their lack of oversight and poor management is offensive. #DeleteFacebook."

Tweet

CalSTRS, which manages $224.4 billion in assets, owns $650.4 million in Facebook shares as of year-end 2017.

Ailman's tweet comes as Facebook struggles with the news that Cambridge Analytica, a political analytics firm, was able to collect data on millions of people's profiles without their consent. The news was followed by a steep decline in the company's stock and raised concern it could be hit with government regulation.

Facebook did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment.

In an interview with CNBC on Wednesday, Ailman said: "They have to deal better with their privacy issues. We've been unhappy about the governance [in Facebook] because as shareholders we have almost no say, because [CEO Mark] Zuckerberg just controls that thing."

"While Silicon Valley loves to have one person in charge, we think there are drawbacks," he said.

Facebook's stock 2.7 percent on Thursday after Zuckerberg told reporters he has not seen a noticeable change in user behavior amid the scandal. Zuckerberg is scheduled to testify in front of Congress on April 11.

Watch: Market will back up to where we were in July if Trump keeps on tweeting: CalSTRS CIO

Market will back up to where we were in July if Trump keeps on tweeting: CalSTRS CIO
VIDEO8:3008:30
Market will back up to where we were in July if Trump keeps on tweeting: CalSTRS CIO