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Facebook has hired Mike Bidgoli, formerly the product lead for Pinterest’s ads, as the head of product for Watch, its new video service, he announced on Monday. 

Why it matters: Facebook is said to be planning to turn Watch into a YouTube rival, allowing creators to upload their own video and share in the ad revenues from it. Bidgoli’s experience with content discovery and building out ad products makes him a logical hire. 

Facebook hires Pinterest ad lead to head video product

Mike Bidgoli will head Facebook's Watch service.

The Facebook is seen on an iphone in this photo illustration on March 5, 2018. Photo: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Technology

Facebook

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Big Tech

Facebook has hired Mike Bidgoli, formerly the product lead for Pinterest’s ads, as the head of product for Watch, its new video service, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="he announced on Monday" data-vars-click-url="https://twitter.com/mikebid/status/970693166121730048" data-vars-content-id="34d2682d-92ac-409e-a536-a66915921ebf" data-vars-headline="Facebook hires Pinterest ad lead to head video product" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://twitter.com/mikebid/status/970693166121730048" target="_blank">he announced on Monday</a>. Why it matters: Facebook is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="said" data-vars-click-url="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/05/facebook-wants-to-open-up-its-videos-platform-to-more-online-influencers-and-advertisers-.html" data-vars-content-id="34d2682d-92ac-409e-a536-a66915921ebf" data-vars-headline="Facebook hires Pinterest ad lead to head video product" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.cnbc.com/2018/02/05/facebook-wants-to-open-up-its-videos-platform-to-more-online-influencers-and-advertisers-.html" target="_blank">said</a> to be planning to turn Watch into a YouTube rival, allowing creators to upload their own video and share in the ad revenues from it. Bidgoli’s experience with content discovery and building out ad products makes him a logical hire.

From the Valley to D.C., Big Tech players like Facebook, Google and Amazon are under more scrutiny than ever as new technology develops and privacy and antitrust concerns grow in lockstep with companies’ ambitions.

Facebook hires Pinterest ad lead to head video product

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