Google’s Android Vice President Leaving the Company
It’s only been a month since Android’s Vice President Hugo Barra has announced that he will no longer work at Google. He’s been a part of Google since 2008, and if you’ve watched Google I/O or the new Nexus 7 and Chromecast launch, you would have seen his face fairly often. Hugo is leaving to go to a Chinese phone company that uses Android with their phones named Xiaomi. The company has also worked on Smart TV’s, but nothing that has been a huge hit or has garnered news in the states.
Hugo will start at the company as the person who will help start the company’s global expansion. Hugo took to Google+ to write a farewell letter for everyone to see.
A new Android chapter
After nearly 5½ years at Google and almost 3 years as a member of the Android team – the most amazing group of people I’ve ever worked with in my life – I have decided to start a new career chapter.
In a few weeks, I’ll be joining the Xiaomi team in China to help them expand their incredible product portfolio and business globally – as Vice President, Xiaomi Global. I’m really looking forward to this new challenge, and am particularly excited about the opportunity to continue to help drive the Android ecosystem.
It has been an amazing ride and true honor to be part of the Android team at Google, and I especially want to thank +Andy Rubin , +Hiroshi Lockheimer , +Sundar Pichai and +Vic Gundotra for their phenomenal support and mentorship over the years.
+Android team, I will truly miss you all!
The change comes at a time when everyone is questioning if Google will keep around the Nexus line of phones, or use Motorola as the main source of Google untempered power. Some talk around the watering hole is that Hugo was having personal issues within the company and this move was to distance himself from these problems. Now, this is just the small talk around here, and he could have a better offer with this Chinese company. Now that no one’s in charge of Android, for the time being, it will be interesting to see who Google appoints as a temporary replacement, or if they already have someone in mind. I am also very interested to see whoever takes over, and what direction they take the growing OS. Tell us in the comments below what you think about this move, and what you think will happen to Android with someone new in charge.