There's been a big shakeup at Google, and we're still fathoming its implications. But one thing is clear: Change at the top means new opportunities for rising talent.
Two top executives who reported to CEO Larry Page—Jeff Huber, head of Google's Geo and Commerce group, and Android founder Andy Rubin—are on to new, unspecified assignments, with other leaders taking over their business units.
That means Page's team will be busier than ever—and their lieutenants will have more opportunities than ever.
It's a good thing Google keeps coming up with new challenges. Some of Google's up-and-comers, while not big names outside the company, have hit the radar of competitors. In the past, Google has fought fiercely to keep its best talent, but some have been lured away. So don't be surprised if you see these people in new, bigger jobs soon—inside or outside Google.
Brian Rakowski, VP, Google Chrome
At Google I/O, Rakowski was one of the stars of the company's big product-launch conference, showing off new versions of its Chrome browser for iPhones and iPads.
Rakowski was the first graduate of Google's associate product manager program, the incubator for in-house talent created by former Google executive Marissa Mayer. He now runs the APM program, plugging him into a network of proteges.
He works for Sundar Pichai, who just got responsibility for Android as well as Chrome and Google Apps. That could mean a bigger job for Rakowski—or a new gig elsewhere. He's already on the top of recruiters' lists, but as a longtime Googler, he'd be hard to pry away.
Shishir Mehrotra, VP, YouTube
If Salar Kamangar, the early Googler who's in charge of YouTube, ever decided to take a new assignment at the company—and that's a big if—a source tells us Mehrotra, YouTube's vice president of product management, would be a natural to step up. Mehrotra's steadily added to his responsibilities in recent years, and under him, YouTube has launched a host of new mobile products and revamped its service to emphasize channel subscriptions.
John Hanke, Niantic Labs
Hanke's startup Keyhole became Google Maps. But now Hanke is working on mixing the virtual and physical worlds through Niantic Labs, a startup-like "sphere of weirdness" within Google. So far, it's come out with travel-guide apps and an augmented-reality game, but there's surely more to come.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
Please follow SAI on Twitter and Facebook.
