Newly restored CEO Larry Page has wasted no time putting his founder's image back on Google during his first week on the job, putting key executives in charge of product areas who now report directly to him.
The moves were first reported by the Los Angeles Times, which said Page's motivation was "to restore the sense of urgency and innovation that was once the company's calling card."
A Google spokesman would not discuss the specifics of the new management flowchart but did confirm the reorganization, whose purpose was to create clear lines of responsibility by streamlining the product and engineering process. Essentially, where this may not have been the case under CEO Eric Schmidt, each affected product area now has a single head who is accountable directly to Page, the spokesman told Wired.com
Page succeeded Schmidt as CEO on Monday. Page and co-founder Sergey Brin served as co-presidents of the company until 2001, when Schmidt, a veteran CEO, stepped in to create a triumvirate of leadership power in the then-nascent company.
The changes are being met with "enthusiasm" at the Plex, the Times reports, and "puts Page firmly in charge of Google and its performance in much the same way Steve Jobs runs Apple."
Among the executives promoted in the re-org, according to the Times:
- Andy Rubin is now senior vice president of mobile
- Vic Gundotra is now SVP of social
- Sundar Pichai is now SVP of Chrome
- Salar Kamangaris now SVP of YouTube and video
- Alan Eustace is now SVP of search
- Susan Wojcicki is now SVP of ads
Photo: Google co-founder and incoming CEO Larry Page at Foo Camp in 2007. Scott Beale/Laughing Squid /Creative Commons
*Exclusive: Google CEO Larry Page completes major reorganization of Internet search giant: *Los Angeles Times
See Also:
- Google Co-Founder Larry Page Takes Over From CEO Eric Schmidt
- Larry Page Wants to Return Google to Its Startup Roots
- Google Co-Founder Larry Page Gets Ready for His Close-Up
- Google's Brin and Page richer than Microsoft's Ballmer
- Google Posts Strong Earnings as Co-Founder Larry Page Is Named CEO
- Android Chief: We’re Still Open, Dammit
