Exit may give Google's new chief a freer rein

Google senior vice-president Jonathan Rosenberg plans to step down, which may give freer rein to new chief executive Larry Page as he tries to shake up the company.

Rosenberg, who announced his resignation on Tuesday, oversaw the design and creation of all of Google's products, including consumer and business services.

Page, who took the chief executive job from Eric Schmidt this week, has pledged to create a more nimble, startup-minded culture at the California-based company.

The departure of a senior leader might help that plan by making business divisions more autonomous, said Stephen Miles, vice-chairman at executive consulting firm Heidrick & Struggles.

"What they will try and do is embed people in specific business units in order to speed up those businesses, instead of having an overarching group of people who pick and choose where they spend their time," he said.

Rosenberg joined Google in 2002 after working at Excite AtHome, Apple and other Silicon Valley companies.

Last month, Google awarded him a bonus of US$1.7 million ($2.2 million) and US$5 million in stock.

"Jonathan is phenomenal - hugely energetic, strategic, a man of real principle who always puts the user first," said Page, 38. "He's been crucial to our success over the last nine years."

Page, who co-founded Google with Sergey Brin in 1998, faces the challenge of invigorating a company that now has annual revenue of almost US$30 billion and a market value approaching US$200 billion.

"Every time we increase the size of the company, we need to keep things going to make sure we keep our speed, pace and passion," he said this year.

Schmidt, 55, had served as chief executive for a decade. He will stay with Google as executive chairman.

- Bloomberg