MENLO PARK — Jennifer Hakes, most recently Facebook Messenger’s communications director, has been upped to head of Messenger’s global communications, replacing Christina Smedley who has moved to a non-comms role in the company.

Hakes moves into the lead role nearly two years after joining Facebook from PayPal, where she spent more than five years, first as senior director of communications and then as senior director of content, communities and brand activation, sources said. She was an Apple public relations manager earlier in her career.

Messenger’s lead communications job opened up due to Smedley (pictured) moving into a non-communications position with Facebook’s new blockchain team. The blockchain division is being headed by David Marcus, who previously led Messenger as a VP.

Marcus and Smedley’s working relationship dates back to before they landed at Facebook. The duo worked together at PayPal, from which Marcus left in 2014 after serving as president and Smedley left in 2015 after three years as VP, global brand & communications.