Google CEO Sundar Pichai announced major leadership changes in a memo to staff on Thursday, reshuffling key positions and teams.
Key changes:
- Prabhakar Raghavan moves to Chief Technologist role.
- Previously led search, ads, and other critical segments.
- Will provide technical direction and leadership.
- Nick Fox takes over Raghavan’s former responsibilities.
- Will lead Search, ads, geo, and commerce divisions.
- Known for launching Google Fi and RCS messaging.
- Gemini app team joins Google DeepMind.
- Led by Sissie Hsaio.
- Now under CEO Demis Hassabis.
- Google Assistant team moves to platforms and devices.
Why we care. Google’s leadership reshuffle could significantly influence the direction of Google’s AI, ads and search strategies. These moves come at a time when Google is under competitive pressure in AI and facing potential antitrust actions, meaning its advertising products could evolve quickly to address both regulatory and technological challenges.
Between the lines: This reshuffle appears aimed at streamlining AI efforts and bolstering Google’s technical leadership.
What they’re saying: Pichai stated Raghavan will “return to his computer science roots” in the new role.
The big picture: Google is navigating:
- Potential breakup threat from U.S. antitrust action.
- Intense competition in AI development.
What’s next. How these changes will impact Google’s strategy in AI and its response to regulatory challenges.
The bottom line. Google’s leadership shakeup signals a strategic shift as the company faces both technological and regulatory hurdles.
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About the author
Anu Adegbola has been Paid Media Editor of Search Engine Land since 2024. She covers paid search, paid social, retail media, video and more.
In 2008, Anu’s career started with
delivering digital marketing campaigns (mostly but not exclusively Paid Search) by building strategies, maximising ROI, automating repetitive processes and bringing efficiency from every part of marketing departments through inspiring leadership both on agency, client and marketing tech side.
Outside editing Search Engine Land article she is the founder of PPC networking event – PPC Live and host of weekly podcast PPCChat Roundup.
She is also an international speaker with some of the stages she has presented on being SMX (US), SMX (Munich), Friends of Search (Amsterdam), brightonSEO, The Marketing Meetup, HeroConf (PPC Hero), SearchLove, BiddableWorld, SESLondon, PPC Chat Live, AdWorld Experience (Bologna) and more.
