Gareth Lambe Critiques Zuckerberg’s Ties to Trump Amid New Role

UPDATE: Gareth Lambe, the former head of Facebook Ireland, has voiced critical concerns over Mark Zuckerberg’s recent associations with Donald Trump. This statement comes as he embarks on a new leadership role at Medihive, a health tech company, where he aims to transform healthcare delivery in Ireland.

In a festive setting at a Dublin hotel, Lambe expressed discomfort witnessing Zuckerberg and other tech leaders cozying up to Trump, stating it gave them “a bit of the ick.” This revelation follows a tumultuous period for Meta, where political controversies have escalated since Lambe’s departure in 2022.

Lambe’s remarks, made less than two weeks before Christmas, highlight the growing unease among tech executives regarding their industry’s direction. “I think it’s safe to say it gave us a bit of the ick when we saw Zuckerberg, Bezos and all these guys kind of cozy up to Trump,” he noted, emphasizing the complex motivations behind such alliances.

Having led Facebook’s European operations, Lambe oversaw a significant expansion of the company’s Irish workforce from 300 to 3,000. He described his decade with the tech giant as a “rollercoaster” filled with challenges, including political scrutiny and regulatory pressures.

Since leaving Meta, Lambe has transitioned to Medihive, where he is spearheading innovative telehealth solutions. The company recently raised €7 million in funding, boosting its valuation to €62 million. “We’re growing our business at 25 percent year-on-year,” Lambe stated, highlighting the company’s strong performance amidst the health technology boom.

Medihive’s offerings include the telemedicine platform Webdoctor, which fills critical gaps in Ireland’s healthcare system, particularly amid a shortage of general practitioners. Lambe pointed out, “We’ve taken a million consultations off a creaking system,” underscoring the urgent need for effective healthcare solutions.

As healthcare technology investments surge, with a recent report indicating that provider operations companies have raised $5.5 billion globally, Lambe believes that Medihive is well-positioned to capture this market. “We are profitable this year, which is really important,” he remarked, suggesting plans for growth through potential acquisitions.

Lambe’s insights into the tech landscape also reflect broader concerns about public trust in major platforms. A recent poll by the Brookings Institution revealed declining confidence in companies like Facebook and Google, primarily due to issues surrounding privacy and misinformation.

Amid these challenges, Lambe expressed a need for tech companies to adapt to changing public perceptions. “I think it’s coming around a bit now, whereby people are finding new things to be worried about,” he said, citing concerns over artificial intelligence and its implications for disinformation.

Looking ahead, Lambe sees potential for Medihive to expand beyond Ireland, leveraging its technology to improve healthcare access internationally. “We believe there remains huge runway for growth domestically and even through other jurisdictions,” he added.

As Lambe embarks on this new chapter with Medihive, his reflections on the evolving tech landscape and the implications of Zuckerberg’s political affiliations resonate with urgent relevance in today’s rapidly shifting environment. His focus on harnessing technology for better healthcare delivery could provide a blueprint for other sectors navigating similar upheavals.

Stay tuned for more developments as Lambe continues to challenge the status quo in both the tech and healthcare industries.