YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki steps down after 9 years on the helm

Hello YouTubers,

Twenty-five years in the past I made the choice to affix a few Stanford graduate college students who had been constructing a brand new search engine. Their names had been Larry and Sergey. I noticed the potential of what they had been constructing, which was extremely thrilling, and though the corporate had only some customers and no income, I made a decision to affix the staff.

It could be top-of-the-line selections of my life.

Over time, I’ve worn many hats and executed so many issues: managed advertising and marketing, co-created Google Picture Search, led Google’s first Video and E book search, in addition to early elements of AdSense’s creation, labored on the YouTube and DoubleClick acquisitions, served as SVP of Adverts, and for the final 9 years, the CEO of YouTube. I took on every problem that got here my means as a result of it had a mission that benefited so many individuals’s lives all over the world: discovering data, telling tales and supporting creators, artists, and small companies. I’m so pleased with all the things we’ve achieved. It’s been exhilarating, significant, and all-consuming.

At present, after almost 25 years right here, I’ve determined to step again from my position as the top of YouTube and begin a brand new chapter targeted on my household, well being, and private initiatives I’m captivated with.

The time is correct for me, and I really feel in a position to do that as a result of we have now an unimaginable management staff in place at YouTube. After I joined YouTube 9 years in the past, considered one of my first priorities was bringing in an unimaginable management staff. Neal Mohan was a kind of leaders, and he’ll be the SVP and new head of YouTube. I’ve spent almost 15 years of my profession working with Neal, first when he came visiting to Google with the DoubleClick acquisition in 2007 and as his position grew to grow to be SVP of Show and Video Adverts. He grew to become YouTube’s Chief Product Officer in 2015. Since then, he has arrange a top-notch product and UX staff, performed pivotal roles within the launch of a few of our largest merchandise, together with YouTube TV, YouTube Music and Premium and Shorts, and has led our Belief and Security staff, guaranteeing that YouTube lives as much as its accountability as a worldwide platform. He has a beautiful sense for our product, our enterprise, our creator and person communities, and our workers. Neal will probably be a terrific chief for YouTube.

With all we’re doing throughout Shorts, streaming, and subscriptions, along with the guarantees of AI, YouTube’s most fun alternatives are forward, and Neal is the correct particular person to steer us.

For all of the YouTubers I’ve had the privilege to work with, you have got executed a lot to make this platform higher through the years. You created the most important artistic economic system the world has ever seen, enabled completely new types of artwork and storytelling, and supported hundreds of thousands of creators and artists to succeed in new audiences—all whereas investing in accountable development in order that this good neighborhood of creators, artists, viewers, and advertisers couldn’t solely co-exist however thrive collectively. Thanks!

As for me, within the brief time period, I plan to assist Neal and assist with the transition, which can embody persevering with to work with some YouTube groups, teaching staff members, and assembly with creators. In the long run, I’ve agreed with Sundar to tackle an advisory position throughout Google and Alphabet. It will permit me to name on my completely different experiences through the years to supply counsel and steering throughout Google and the portfolio of Alphabet corporations. It’s an extremely essential time for Google—it jogs my memory of the early days—unimaginable product and know-how innovation, big alternatives, and a wholesome disregard for the not possible.

And past that, I’ll nonetheless be round, so I’ll have an opportunity to thank the hundreds of individuals from all throughout the corporate and the world who I’ve labored with and realized from. However for now, I need to thank Sundar for his management, assist and imaginative and prescient through the years. I additionally need to thank Larry and Sergey for inviting me on what has actually been the journey of a lifetime. I all the time dreamed of working for an organization with a mission that would change the world for the higher. Due to you and your imaginative and prescient, I obtained the possibility to reside that dream. It has been an absolute privilege to be part of it, and I’m excited for what’s subsequent.

Thanks for all the things,

Susan.