Web search operation Google Inc. named the former CEO of Novell Inc. as its
chief executive, succeeding 28-year-old Larry Page, one of the site’s
founders.
The privately held Mountain View, Calif.-based company selected Eric E.
Schmidt, 46, who had been appointed chairman of Google’s board of directors
last March. Schmidt brings more than 20 years of software development,
management and marketing experience to Google.
Google was founded in 1998 by Page and
Sergey Brin, two Stanford University Ph.D. candidates who developed the
site’s Internet search technology, widely viewed as both effective and
efficient. Google WebSearch technology is now used in more than 30 countries
by clients including Yahoo! and Netscape’s Netcenter portal. Google also
sells targeted advertising.
Schmidt had been chairman and CEO of Novell since 1997.
He remains chairman of the board at Novell, which recently completed its
acquisition of Cambridge Technology Partners, and subsequently named Jack
Messman, Cambridge’s CEO, to head Novell.
Prior to his appointment at Novell, Schmidt was chief technology officer at
Sun Microsystems Inc., where he led the development of Java.
“Eric is exactly the right leader for Google,” said Page. “His extensive
technology background and vision for the potential of the Internet complement
the efforts that Google is making … His strong management experience will
help shape Google … And most importantly … Eric is a natural fit with our
corporate culture.”
Page becomes president of products. Brin, 27, becomes president of
technology. Google’s backers include Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers and
Sequoia Capital.
