Facebook Australia has appointed Melissa Verner Green to lead its Victorian operations as head of Melbourne, a key role as Facebook increases its focus in the Melbourne market throughout 2016.

Verner Green, a senior media executive with over 20 years’ experience, joined Facebook earlier this year as head of Facebook’s Melbourne agency relationship team.

Her new responsibility as Facebook’s head of Melbourne expands her role to overseeing the company’s total operations in the market, across both Facebook and Instagram.

Speaking about her new responsibility, Facebook MD Australia and New Zealand Stephen Scheeler said, “We recognise the importance of the Melbourne market and the need to provide more resource and senior leadership in this market.

“Mel is an outstanding leader and has seen a great deal of success in her short time here. She is deeply entrenched in the Melbourne market and has strong relationships across many of our clients and agency partners.”

Another key Facebook hire into the Melbourne team is former DDB Melbourne planning director, Tom Hyde, who joined Facebook a month ago as the newly-created role of creative agency partner.