Why did COO Sheryl Sandberg sell over 50% of her shares in Facebook?

Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg has sold more than half the shares she owned when the social network went public just two years ago. Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer and its most high-profile executive after founder Mark Zuckerberg, has reduced her holding to 17.2 million shares now worth just over $1billion, according to regulatory filings published by Facebook.

Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg. Reuters

Thats has certainly set the rumour mills buzzing. Speculations are that she is preparing for her way out. According to The Telegraph, Sandberg, a former Google executive who also served in the Clinton administration, is looking for a return to politics, and it has been suggested that she is building up a campaign fund.

A report by the Daily Mail reveals that Sandberg is one of the business world's biggest champions of correcting gender inequality in the workplace and is eyeing a rebellion against Democratic Californian Senator Barbara Boxer. Sources close to her, however, vehemently deny any of her political ambitions.

Sandberg also has interests other than Facebook. She has written a book. She is a regular at commencement ceremonies and conferences and does not necessarily talk about Facebook always. Along with her crusade to becoming a voice for women in business, all this time spent into causes outside of Facebook has always made people wonder if she is in it for the long term or will eventually move on. Also the fact that Facebook has reached somewhat of a plateau might push her to move out. She doesn't need to prove anything any more, does she?

Another theory doing the rounds is her taking up Bob Iger’s chair as Walt Disney CEO after his exit in 2016. “The job is the most coveted role in all of media,” one source close to the action tells the New York Post. “People are angling early on.”

The report goes on to say that Disney TV boss Anne Sweeney took herself out of contention Tuesday by announcing her departure from the company. Few discussed Sweeney as a possible successor to Iger, one possible reason she opted out of the company. The 44-year-old Sandberg already sits on the Disney board and is said to have had conversations about her interest.

For now, whether Sandberg will stick to being a media mogul or take a position to fight for a cause close to her heart is an entirely wait-and-watch game.