Google founders step down, pave the way for Sundar Pichai

Larry Page and Sergey Brin, the founders of Google and its parent company Alphabet, will be stepping down from their leadership positions. After about 21 years at the helm, they feel that a change is necessary if not healthy, for the continued growth of Google, Alphabet and its other ‘bets’ that include Youtube, Maps, Google Cloud Services, Android as well as others.

Sundar Pichai, the current CEO of Google will also assume control of Alphabet as its CEO. According to the founders’ blog post, there’s no one that they trust more than Pichai to pick up where they left off. It’s an enormous task to head the search giant as well as oversee Alphabet’s other projects.

This speaks volumes of the faith that both Page and Brin have in Pichai. He’s been with Google for the past 15 years, raising through the ranks over the years. Though both founders have relinquished control of the company, they will remain actively involved as Board members, shareholders and co-founders.

Unlike most other organisations, Page and Brin don’t believe in holding on to their management positions indefinitely. Speaking of this sudden decision to pass on the baton to their successor, both founders said in a joint statement:

“Today, in 2019, if the company was a person, it would be a young adult of 21 and it would be time to leave the roost. While it has been a tremendous privilege to be deeply involved in the day-to-day management of the company for so long, we believe it’s time to assume the role of proud parents—offering advice and love, but not daily nagging!”

What started off as a research project by two Stanford students, has developed into an enormous cloud based entity that has changed the way we search, access and interact with the internet. The founders also say that they plan to continue talking with Sundar Pichai regularly, especially on topics they are passionate about.

Photo Credit: Source: Google

SOURCE: Google Blog