undefined | Better HN

0 pointstyingq6y ago0 comments

If I were Sundar Pichai, I'd probably view being the Alphabet Chief, and not the Google Chief, as a downgrade from just being the Google Chief. That was fine for Larry and Sergey with their founder's stock and deliberate desire to be somewhat disconnected. I don't think Sundar has either of those.

0 comments

4 comments · 2 top-level

basch6y ago· 2 in thread

IF his forte is operations, more Ballmer and Cook to a visionary, it makes sense. Put a new visionary in charge of Google, and start focusing on turning the other bets into self sustaining companies. Maybe split google up a bit too, make CGP its own bet. You could even make the case for Youtube, Nest/Pixel, Doubleclick, maybe Android. Refocus google on being an information sorting and calling tool, whether that be search, shopping, maps, gmail, photos.

Google could benefit a bit from the Bezos API memo AND a bit from the Jobsesque "singular vision not kitchen sink of requested features" refinement. Paring google down and giving sects more singular visions, while encouraging cohesiveness might need a Bain Capital type chopman, but after that is said and done, Alphabet Chief should be more important than Google Chief.

Pichai's job should be demarcing responsibility and org chart, giving focus.

scarface746y ago

A “visionary” without any operations expertise is useless. Cook has as much to do with the rise of Apple as Jobs. Jobs wouldn’t have had the supply chain experience to manufacturer 100 million iPods at his height or all the products that it ships now.

basch6y ago

and Pichai would still be there. I fully 100% agree, Cook is who scaled Apple.

Whoever else decided to allow iTunes onto Windows should be shown a lot of respect as well. That was a very uncharacteristic and forward thinking move.

Putting a visionary in the drivers seat of google doesnt mean that operations should be thrown to the wayside. And part of that pretense is paring down and refining what "google" is. GCP obviously needs a more salesman/finance/trustworthy leader at the moment. One who can walk into a Fortune 100 company and say "trust us to be your foundation." That div reinventing itself shouldt be hampered by Google needing to become truly innovative again. The worst part about reinventing search specifically, is that if done right, its a bit of a thankless endeavor. Google search is so seamless and chromeless, that when it works you dont even notice it. It's job is to present other information.

1 more reply

giancarlostoro6y ago

Unless the purpose is to just steer Alphabet into a new direction. But yeah I had not thought of that to be honest.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse