- Google was founded in 1998 but operated without a traditional CEO until 2001.
- Since then, the search giant has had three CEOs: Eric Schmidt, Larry Page, and Sundar Pichai.
- Google has undergone massive growth over the last 25 years, and each CEO has left a unique legacy.
Sundar Pichai has been the CEO of Google since October 2015. He’s the company’s third chief executive since its incorporation in 1998.
Let’s break down the company’s chief executives and their tenures:
The Triumvirate years (1998-2001)
During this time period, Google was run by Eric Schmidt, Larry Page, and Sergey Brin. While the company didn’t have a formal CEO during this time, Page considered himself the CEO and attempted to fire all project managers, believing that Google had no need for a management layer — much less one without engineering experience — between its top-notch engineers and the CEO.
However, Page’s abrupt dismissal of the project managers did not stick and it eventually became clear that Google still needed them.
Eric Schmidt (2001-2011)
Eric Schmidt took the helm as chairman and CEO after Google’s founders were convinced by investors that the company needed experienced management.
Schmidt was a veteran computer expert: He holds a doctorate in Computer Science and had served as Chief Technology Officer for Sun Microsystems and the CEO of Novell during the 1990s.
His tenure as CEO saw the company through its initial stages, Initial Public Offering (IPO), and its rise to market dominance. Schmidt remained as executive chairman until 2017 and as a technical advisor to the company until February 2020.
Larry Page (2011-2015)
Larry Page’s communication style, even with co-founder Sergey Brin, was aggressive and tense — they often interacted bluntly, called each other names, and labeled ideas as stupid or naive.
When Page felt no negative impact on his friendship with Brin — their bond was actually strengthened — he continued using this style in interactions with employees: Page once told a room full of marketing employees that their profession was built on an ability to lie.
Page connected with people’s ideas rather than their feelings. Heather Cairns, an early HR boss at Google, once recalled how Page talked intently with a janitor, complimenting his efficiency and stating “I learned from that.”
He connected best with people through visions of the future and cool technologies, without regard for feelings; downsides to complex problem solutions were viewed as collateral damage he could live with.
In 2007, Page decided that he was attending too many meetings, so he fired his assistants so that anyone who wanted to meet with him would have to find him in person. He was well known for dismissing people with a friendly nod over the shoulder as he kept walking. The next year, he told Google’s communications team that he would only be available for interviews a total of eight hours a year.
After learning under Eric Schmidt for 10 years, Page stepped back into the chief executive role and Schmidt became the executive chairman.
Under Page’s leadership, Google continued to grow and expand into new areas. Page was at the helm during the introduction of Google Glass, the Chromebook, and Google Plus. Page was also responsible for the advent of Google Street prior to his tenure as CEO.
Page also overhauled Google’s senior management early in his tenure, installing CEO-like managers at major Google divisions like YouTube, Google Search, and Google AdWords, now known simply as Google Ads.
In 2015, Page opted to create the holding company Alphabet Inc. and made Google its subsidiary. With this decision, Page was replaced by Sundar Pichai as Google CEO and became the CEO of Alphabet, Google’s parent company, where he could better oversee other ventures.
Sundar Pichai (2015-present)
Sundar Pichai took the helm of Google when Larry Page formed Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., and became its CEO.
He had previously served as a project manager for a multitude of products, including Google Chrome, and was appointed as Product Chief by Page during his tenure as Google’s Chief Executive.
Pichai also became the CEO of Alphabet Inc. in December 2019 after Page stepped back from the role.
