It seems like it’s a pretty interesting day for the Tech world. First we hear Tim confirming that there will be a new line of products from Apple, and now, Vic Gundotra is leaving Google.
Vic Gundotra is the Senior Vice President, Social at Google. He was responsible for the success of Google+ and manages mobile and developer relations. In the early days of the mobile, turn-by-turn navigation was his brainchild. Prior to Google, he worked with Microsoft for 15 years as a General Manager.
In a post titled, “And Then”, Vic bids adieu to the Google team. He writes,
Today I’m announcing my departure from Google after almost 8 years. I’m also forever in debt to the Google+ team. This is a group of people who built social at Google against the skepticism of so many.
Now what remains a mystery is who will head Google+? We suspect it could be Google+’s product head Bradley Horowitz, but sources confirm that it might not be that easy.
Vic commandeered the Google+ development and launch after the companies many failed attempts at social networking like Google Buzz. It’s going to be pretty interesting to watch what will happen with Google+ and the company’s interest in social networking in general. In fact it was Vic’s crazy idea to include the concept of “Circles” in Google+. Circles allows one to choose the exact audience that a particular post can be shared with. Will the next head of Google+ be that imaginative?
He says,
But, now is the time for a new journey. A continuation. An “and then”. I am excited about what’s next. But this isn’t the day to talk about that. This is a day to celebrate the past 8 years. To cry. And smile. And to look forward to the journey yet to come.
Head over to Vic’s Google+ profile to read his entire post.
Last year at Google I/O, Vic was introduced on stage with all the pride and prestige. Being on of the more vocal execs at Google, he would take on rivals publicly, in colorful speeches. We hope to see him at this years I/O. But we highly doubt if that’s a possibility.
What do you think of this departure? Let us know in the comment section below!