Google EMEA President Matt Brittin to step down after 18 years

In a LinkedIn post, he shared the news of his departure. Brittin wrote, “After 18 years at Google, and ten leading Europe, Middle East and Africa, today I Iet my colleagues know that I have decided to step down in the new year.

“It has been an enormous privilege to build our teams, relationships and business in this region and I’ve been inspired by the diversity, brilliance and entrepreneurialism of so many. A big thank you to all the customers, partners, policymakers, journalists and people from so many backgrounds I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know and work with over the years.

“When I joined Google, fewer than one in five people were online. Today, nearly 70% have the world’s information in their hands and the opportunities that come with it. Jobs, growth and exports are at the centre. We’ve trained over 24 million people across the region in digital skills; empowered learners, entrepreneurs, creators, developers; and supported nations (and each other) in times of crisis. EMEA represents around one-third of Google’s overall revenue and we’ve grown it several times over. My deepest gratitude goes to everyone who has made this work possible – and to the leaders who put their trust in me and my colleagues.

“It’s a pivotal moment to be passing the baton. We’re only just starting to glimpse the transformative benefit that AI will have on billions of lives – and people in our part of the world are showing the way. Google DeepMind, led from London, have pioneered breakthroughs like Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold, accelerating research in nearly every field of science, while in Kenya and Ghana, Google researchers are creating AI for flood forecasting and food security.

“Over the next few years, we’ll see even more extraordinary breakthroughs that will revolutionise the diagnosis and cure of diseases, help tackle the climate crisis, revolutionise education and open up opportunities for everyone.

“When I joined Google in January 2007, Larry Page advised me to “put the best people you can on important work, and get out of the way”. It’s been the privilege of my life to try to honour this – working with brilliant teams to help build tech that makes the world better.

“I’ll continue to lead our EMEA business as usual while we appoint my successor. Then I will take a break for the first time since leaving school – a ‘mini gap year’. I’m fortunate to have a wonderful and healthy family that has always supported me, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with them in the year ahead – including my parents who are now in their nineties.

“Beyond, I hope to apply what I’ve learned about technology and leadership to help people make the most of this wave of innovation in education, business, science and society – from different vantage points.

“You know that I love to read, learn and try new things. I’ve already grown a beard, bought a single sculling boat and plan to learn scuba diving from my son when he qualifies as an instructor. I’d love your suggestions, challenges and recommendations,” he added.

With a career spanning more than three decades, Brittin has also held positions at companies such as Media Trust, Sainsbury’s, The Climate Group, Trinity Mirror, McKinsey & Company, and Connell Wilson. MediaBrief