Vic Gondotra leaving Google
"And then"
Today I'm announcing my departure from Google after almost 8 years.
I have been incredibly fortunate to work with the amazing people of Google. I don't believe there is a more talented and passionate collection of people anywhere else. And I'm overwhelmed when I think about the leadership of +Larry Page and what he empowered me to do while at Google. From starting Google I/O, to being responsible for all mobile applications, to creating Google+, none of this would have happened without Larry's encouragement and support. I've written of what I've felt is the rot setting in at Google
And while I don't think Gundotra is the sole source of it (from what I've seen, it goes clear to the top: Brin, Page, and Schmidt), my impression of Gundotra's influence on the culture has been strongly negative.
There's no way of knowing, of course, whether this was entirely his choice or not. Or if it's the result of failure to meet expectations or deliver on goals. But given the shaky reception of the tech world to Google Plus, Google Glass (a wonderful bit in Forbes yesterday on that), and the Aschluss -- the forced integration of accounts from disparate Google properties into Google Plus, I can't but suspect that this played a role.
So, while I wish Vic well, I wish better on Google than we've seen in the past eight years.