Facebook has finally found the person who will spearhead the opening of its UK sales operation - and he’s coming from Yahoo (NSDQ: YHOO). The social network’s new UK sales director will be Yahoo commercial director Blake Chandlee. Media Week reports Chandlee has quit the portal and will start “within the next few weeks”. He joined Yahoo four years ago this month.

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This is an important hire for Facebook, which is enjoying a super time in the UK after 2,167 percent rise in unique users since in the last 12 months (comScore August 2007 data). With nine million unique monthly UK users using the site like it’s crack, the marketing opportunities are tremendous. It’s opening an office around Soho Square, London. Facebook ads are currently powered by Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT). Somewhat ironically, Yahoo only last month inked a deal to power ads on another social network - Bebo. Media Week: “Chandlee’s role will be to build up Facebook’s UK sales team and work directly with agencies and advertisers to exploit the site’s commercial opportunities.” Swedish-Israeli entrepreneur Netanel Jacobsson, who last week announced he was joining Facebook in Palo Alto from Chinese browser maker Maxthon as director of international business development, will oversee the UK business, according to NMA.