Active Stocks
Thu Mar 28 2024 15:59:33
  1. Tata Steel share price
  2. 155.90 2.00%
  1. ICICI Bank share price
  2. 1,095.75 1.08%
  1. HDFC Bank share price
  2. 1,448.20 0.52%
  1. ITC share price
  2. 428.55 0.13%
  1. Power Grid Corporation Of India share price
  2. 277.05 2.21%
Business News/ Companies / People/  Google’s Andy Rubin to leave after leading Android, robotics
BackBack

Google’s Andy Rubin to leave after leading Android, robotics

Rubin was working on robotics at Google after stepping down in March 2013 from his position running Android

After joining Google in 2005, when the web-search provider bought his startup Android Inc., Rubin was instrumental in turning Android into a major competitor against Apple’s iPhones. Photo: BloombergPremium
After joining Google in 2005, when the web-search provider bought his startup Android Inc., Rubin was instrumental in turning Android into a major competitor against Apple’s iPhones. Photo: Bloomberg

San Francisco:Google Inc.’s Andy Rubin, who oversaw development of the Android software used in more than 70% of the world’s smartphones, is leaving the company.

Rubin, 51, is departing to form an incubator focusing on hardware technology, Mountain View, California-based Google said on Friday. Rubin was working on robotics at Google after stepping down in March 2013 from his position running Android. The robotics initiative will now be headed up by James Kuffner, a research scientist, Google said.

“I want to wish Andy all the best with what’s next," chief executive officer (CEO) Larry Page wrote in an e-mailed statement. “With Android he created something truly remarkable."

After joining Google in 2005, when the Web-search provider bought his startup Android Inc., Rubin was instrumental in turning Android into a major competitor against Apple Inc.’s iPhones. Rubin joins a list of several high-profile departures from Google this year, including Vic Gundotra, who led the company’s social-networking efforts, and Nikesh Arora, who had been chief business officer. Last week Page gave top lieutenant Sundar Pichai most of the product leadership at the company, freeing up the CEO to focus on long-term strategy.

“Android has obviously been huge for Google," said Greg Sterling, vice president of strategy and insights at Local Search Association, a trade group. “Rubin himself is no longer as important to Google, and so while his departure may been seen by some as a loss, it’s not truly one at this point. At an earlier time, when Rubin was running Android and when Android was less dominant, that might have been the case."

Hardware growth

Rubin didn’t immediately respond to an e-mail message seeking comment.

Known for being independent, Rubin was passionate about driving Android’s growth while keeping the platform neutral so software and hardware designers could integrate easily with the operating system. The partnerships gave hardware companies, such as Samsung Electronics, a foothold in the mobile market as consumers increasingly turned to smartphones to access digital services.

Rubin was among seven managers promoted to senior executive positions in April 2011, not long after Page became CEO. When Rubin started his robotics work at the company, Page was enthusiastic about the effort. The company acquired seven companies at the time to help the initiative.

Kuffner, who is taking over the robotics effort, is an adjunct associate professor at the Robotics Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, according to a post on Google’s website. Bloomberg

Unlock a world of Benefits! From insightful newsletters to real-time stock tracking, breaking news and a personalized newsfeed – it's all here, just a click away! Login Now!

Catch all the Corporate news and Updates on Live Mint. Download The Mint News App to get Daily Market Updates & Live Business News.
More Less
Published: 31 Oct 2014, 09:11 AM IST
Next Story footLogo
Recommended For You
Switch to the Mint app for fast and personalized news - Get App