Facebook executive chef Josef Desimone died in a motorcycle accident on Monday morning. Mark Zuckerberg, founder and CEO of the social network, shared the news in a Facebook post.
Mark Zuckerberg (Founder and CEO, Facebook): Josef was a Facebook legend and institution. “Chef Josef” joined us in 2008 and built our culinary team from a handful of employees in a single café into a global team with dozens of world class restaurants. He never compromised on quality while maintaining total attention to detail. Josef played an incredibly important role in defining our culture during those first years and right up to the present.
Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s COO, who had worked with Mr. Desimone since her Google days, added her own tribute:
Wherever Josef was, everything was not only delicious, but filled with joy and a love of life. He was a dedicated colleague who cared deeply about all of those around him, a perfectionist who worked hard each day to give his very best to his community, and an inspiration.
Facebook will find a way to permanently honor his legacy soon, says Mr. Zuckerberg.