Vivek “Vic” Gundotra, the man primarily responsible for Google+, announced on Thursday that he’ll be leaving Google after 8 years. In a post on Google+ he announced his decision to leave Google – “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’m also forever in debt to the Google+ team. This is a group of people who built social at Google against the skepticism of so many. The growth of active users is staggering, and speaks to the work of this team. But it doesn’t tell you what kind of people they are. They are invincible dreamers. I love them. And I will miss them dearly.Finally, thank you to all those who I’ve met on Google+. The community here has been so supportive that I don’t even know how to say thank you. You all make Google+. Without you, this social network wouldn’t exist. Your support for Google+, and for me personally is something I will never forget.” Larry Page took to Google+ and thanked Gundotra for building Google+ from nothing –
Gundotra had joined Google in 2007 after being at Microsoft for 15 years. Before Google+, he was the head at Google’s mobile and developer relations teams. While Gundotra has given no hints whatsoever as to where he might be heading next, a post on the anonymous app Secret revealed a couple of days back that he was interviewing somewhere.
The news that was first reported by Re/code has heated up speculations as to what might happen to Google+ after he leaves. Many think Google+ is “more like walking dead”. However, Larry Page has made it clear while talking to Re/Code that Google would continue to invest in Google+. Page has already picked the VP of Engineering for Google+, David Besbris,as replacement of Gundotra.
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