Google has announced its $12.5 billion Motorola Mobility deal has been officially completed.
In an official statement posted to the Google Blog, Google CEO Larry Page wrote: “The phones in our pockets have become supercomputers that are changing the way we live... It's why I'm excited to announce today that our Motorola Mobility deal has closed.”
While Sanjay Jha has stepped down as Motorola Mobility CEO, Page says: “I would like to thank him for his efforts and am tremendously pleased that he will be working to ensure a smooth transition as long-time Googler Dennis Woodside takes over as CEO of Motorola Mobility.”
Woodside is the former president of Google's Americas region, and was reportedly approached by Apple CEO Tim Cook to become the company's head of sales. According to Page, Woodside's first priority will be building the business across the Middle East, Africa, Eastern Europe and Russia.
The announcement of the closure of the deal follows the granting of approval from European, US and Chinese regulators. The Chinese approval was dependent on Google agreeing to get the Android mobile platform open and free for at least five years and for charging reasonable fees for technology licences.
Reuters reports Woodside has hired a number of outside executives to run Motorola Mobility. The new hires include Vanessa Wittman (former chief financial officer of Marsh & McLennan) as CFO and Mark Randall (former supply chain VP at Amazon) as head of supply chain. Motorola's Iqbal Arshad will remain as head of product development.
“It's a well-known fact that people tend to overestimate the impact technology will have in the short term, but underestimate its significance in the longer term,” says Page. “Many users coming online today may never use a desktop machine, and the impact of that transition will be profound - as will the ability to just tap and pay with your phone.
“That's why it's a great time to be in the mobile business, and why I'm confident Dennis and the team at Motorola will be creating the next generation of mobile devices that will improve lives for years to come.”
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