Google SA's country manager, Stephen Newton, will leave the company at the end of next month.
According to the company's local communications head, Julie Taylor, Newton will head off to pursue his own entrepreneurial plans, possibly looking at opening a South African business. “He has brought his global experience to the online space in SA, and we are sad to see him go,” says Taylor.
Newton was appointed to the helm of the local arm of Google less than a year ago, and his resignation has come as a surprise. He took over from the former head, Stafford Masie, who also did not have a long run at the head of the business, keeping the position for only 18 months.
Since he joined, Google's local presence has grown, with the company investing in mobile advertising platform Admob, which has a local arm, as well as the introduction of some of the more coveted Google products from the international market.
With the coming Fifa Soccer World Cup, Newton pushed the implementation of Google Street View, and has been in discussions with local providers to bring in local content. He has had a strong focus on bringing as much local information to local Internet users as possible.
Taylor says that, while Newton will be leaving, Google SA will run business as usual. She says the company is firmly committed to having a local office and will bring in a temporary lead from Israel to act in his place.
According to Taylor, the hunt for a new permanent head of the South African office will now begin. She says Google has decided to install a South African national in the position. “We want someone who will understand the South African Internet space,” she says.
There are already a few candidates on the cards, Taylor says. However, Google is encouraging interested parties to apply through its African jobs page.
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