Google is making some big and unexpected changes at the top

Mar 14, 2013 09:31 GMT  ·  By
Sundar Pichai will take over Android, along with leading Chrome and Apps
2 photos
   Sundar Pichai will take over Android, along with leading Chrome and Apps

It's no secret that Android is one of Google's most successful products and one with the biggest impact. But it wasn't a homegrown project, not at first, it arrived at Google via an acquisition.

But ever since the Android project took shape, it's been led by one man Andy Rubin, since the idea of a mobile operating system took root at Google all the way to Android taking over the world.

At that time, Rubin steered Android quite well it would seem, but he's now stepping down and headed to other projects at Google, while Chrome chief Sundar Pichai will take over Android.

Pichai will now head two of Google's biggest branches, Chrome and Android. While they may have similarities, they are both more hardware focused or at least less web focused, from a technical point of view, than most of Google's other products.

But it's still a strange pairing, especially since Chrome OS and Android compete, in a way.

Pichai also leads Google Apps though, along with Gmail, Drive and everything else. He's already got a lot on his plate, but he's been doing great so far.

Still, the move comes as quite a surprise for everyone outside Google and probably for most people inside Google as well. Larry Page himself made the announcement.

"While Andy’s a really hard act to follow, I know Sundar will do a tremendous job doubling down on Android as we work to push the ecosystem forward," Page said.

"Having exceeded even the crazy ambitious goals we dreamed of for Android—and with a really strong leadership team in place—Andy’s decided it’s time to hand over the reins and start a new chapter at Google. Andy, more moonshots please!," he added.

Whether this means Rubin will spend six more months at Google and then leave to do his own thing, or whether he will genuinely come up with an entirely new product while still at Google, perhaps by joining Google X, remains to be seen.

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Sundar Pichai will take over Android, along with leading Chrome and Apps
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