Google’s share price under departing finance chief Patrick Pichette rocketed
Google’s long-standing finance chief Patrick Pichette has announced he’s leaving the tech company to travel the world.
Pichette is one of the most senior executives, with the tech giant having overseen the firm’s finances for the last six and a half years. Since then, the value of Google stock has rocketed by almost two thirds and revenue tripled.
In charge of a cash pile that stood at $59bn in 2013, Pichette has overseen investments into projects such as driverless cars and Google Glass, although that hasn't always left investors happy.
Pichette was Google’s highest paid executive – apart from co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and top boss Eric Schmidt – with a a total compensation package which stood at just under $40m in 2013.
In a surprisingly personal post on Google Plus, the 52-year-old Canadian said it was time to spend more time with his family and "grab our backpacks and hit the road". Though he can probably afford to travel a little more comfortably than that.
"In the end, life is wonderful, but nonetheless a series of trade-offs, especially between business/professional endeavours and family/community. And thankfully, I feel I'm at a point in my life where I no longer have to have to make such tough choices anymore. And for that I am truly grateful. Carpe Diem," said the Oxford graduate.
Pichette will remain at Google for a six month period while the firm hunts for a successor to fill those boots.
Here's Pichette sharing his insight on Google's finances back in 2011, and supposedly "frivolous" spending.