I’m Joining Google As Head of Local

Roughly five years ago I secretly interviewed at Google for a position. At the time we both agreed there wasn’t a fit.

But the past couple of weeks I’ve been in talks with Google about a role at or near the top of their local team. I was initially surprised when I received a call from them a month ago. There’s been a shuffle in personnel over there and there’s something of a “crisis of leadership” going on in local. Finally yesterday at the Where 2.0 show they made me an offer that was very hard to refuse — so I didn’t.

It was an extremely difficult decision and very hard to give up my role as independent blogger and “pundit.” But the stability, money and opportunity to lead Google’s growth in the local, mobile and SMB markets proved compelling. I’m now going to be steering local on the PC and in mobile, on both the product side as well as handling SMB ad products. 

I’m very excited and hope to continue working with all or most of you but in this new position of power and authority.

I’m not sure whether they’ll allow me to keep this blog — probably not. In the event that this is one of my final posts, let me say I’m very grateful to all of you for your comments, feedback and support since 2006.