Skip to main content

Google changes CEO; co-founder Larry Page to take the reigns


Page, Schmidt and Brin Image used with permission by copyright holder

Earlier today Google announced its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2010 results (which were very good), then quickly overshadowed that news with the announcement that Google co-founder Larry Page will take over the CEO title from current holder Eric Schmidt, who will remain as an advisor and take the title Executive Chairman.

So what does this mean for Google? In theory, not much. Of course, there may be more to the story than the Google press release lets on, but since taking the CEO title in August of 2001, Schmidt, Page, and co-founder Sergey Brin have been running the company as a triumvirate, with each man taking over one specific role, but all three making the major decisions.

“We’ve been talking about how best to simplify our management structure and speed up decision making for a long time.” Schmidt said. “By clarifying our individual roles we’ll create clearer responsibility and accountability at the top of the company. In my clear opinion, Larry is ready to lead and I’m excited about working with both him and Sergey for a long time to come.”

As Page takes on the day-to-day operations and the legal responsibilities associated with the title of CEO, Schmidt will remain involved as the Executive Chairmen. According to Google, his new responsibilities will involve “focusing externally on deals, partnerships, customers and broader business relationships, government outreach and technology thought leadership–all of which are increasingly important given Google’s global reach.” Schmidt will also continue to act as an advisor to Page and Brin.

Brin will continue to work with Google’s philanthropic division on energy and climate change projects, and will be involved with all new project development at Google as well as all major decisions.

The news should not do much to the Google stock, especially following the fourth quarter earnings which reported revenue of $8.44 billion, a 26-percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2009.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Ryan Fleming
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Ryan Fleming is the Gaming and Cinema Editor for Digital Trends. He joined the DT staff in 2009 after spending time covering…
Dell XPS 13 laptop just crashed to its cheapest-ever price
The Dell XPS 13, open on a table in front of a window.

If you like the idea of a thin and light laptop like the MacBook Air but don't want to enter the Apple ecosystem or spend a lot of money, then the Dell XPS lineup is right up your alley. In essence, the Dell XPS 13 is Dell's response to the MacBook Air, and while it can still be relatively expensive, this configuration has a great deal on it. You can grab it now at Dell for just $600, rather than the regular $800, making it one of the better Dell XPS deals we've seen this week.

Why you should buy the Dell XPS 13
The Dell XPS 13 is a surprisingly powerful little laptop for its size; with a mid-range 12th Gen Intel Core i5-1230U, it can handle many things. That means anything from day-to-day activities to productivity tasks and even potentially some editing work. Because of it's 0.55-inch thickness and 2.59-pound weight, you can easily put it in a bag and carry it around with you, making this a great option if you're constantly on the move and need a laptop for work or school. The 13.-6inch screen only runs FHD, but that's not an issue with a screen that small, and, more importantly, it can hit an impressive 500nits of peak brightness, meaning you can use the XPS 13 in any situation, including outside on a bright day, which is impressive.

Read more
Best gaming laptops in 2023: Razer, Lenovo, Asus, and more
Cyberpunk 2077 on the Lenovo Legion Pro 5.

Finding the best gaming laptop is no easy task. You want something as portable as it is powerful, all while balancing battery life, heat, and fan noise. A lot of gaming laptops get this balance wrong, but a select few rise above and get it right.

We have a new crop of gaming laptops thanks to next-gen CPU and GPU options from AMD, Nvidia, and Intel, but one sits above the rest. The Lenovo Legion Pro 5 is the best gaming laptop you can buy right now thanks to its chart-topping performance, decent price, and fantastic build quality. But it's not the only great gaming laptop we've reviewed this year.

Read more
This weird sneaker PC is on sale for less than you might think
The Cooler Master CMODX Sneaker X PC against a red background.

If you’re feeling like your PC is a little boring, you’re in luck, as Cooler Master’s experimental brand CMODX has started selling its utterly weird Sneaker X shoe-shaped computer to all and sundry. The price? A hefty $3,499.

For that, you get an Intel Core i7-13700K CPU, an Nvidia RTX 4070 GPU, 32GB of memory, 2TB of storage, and a liquid cooling system. It’s all wrapped up in a bright, garish case shaped like a chunky sneaker, of all things.

Read more