Eric Schmidt on Sundar Pichai
TL;DR
Eric Schmidt enthusiastically congratulated Sundar Pichai on becoming CEO, praising his vision and brilliance for the role.
Key Points
Eric Schmidt congratulated Sundar Pichai on his elevation to Google CEO on August 10, 2015.
He specifically tweeted excitement about Pichai's vision and brilliance, stating he would be a great CEO.
Schmidt had previously expressed hesitation about building a new browser, which Pichai championed, indicating a supportive mentoring role during Pichai's rise.
Summary
Eric Schmidt publicly expressed strong support and excitement for Sundar Pichai upon his elevation to CEO of Google in August 2015. He described Pichai as possessing the necessary vision and brilliance, proclaiming he would be a great CEO for the search giant. This positive affirmation was communicated via social media and in response to the organizational restructuring that placed Pichai at the helm of the newly formed Google under the parent company Alphabet.
Furthermore, historical context suggests Schmidt's support evolved from a mentor-mentee dynamic, as he recalled being hesitant to build a new browser, Chrome, due to past industry battles, indicating a level of caution that Pichai overcame with a small, committed team. The former CEO's comments on Pichai’s promotion stand as a key early endorsement following the leadership transition from Schmidt himself and co-founder Larry Page.
Key Quotes
... do you know what it takes to build a browser?
Join Diane Greene, Sundar Pichai and Eric Schmidt at Google Cloud Next '17
Frequently Asked Questions
Eric Schmidt strongly supported Sundar Pichai's appointment as Google CEO in 2015. He stated publicly that he was 'Really excited about the vision and brilliance of Sundar' and believed he would be a great CEO.
Yes, Schmidt was the CEO of Google when Pichai was rising through the ranks, overseeing key product areas. Schmidt mentioned feeling hesitant about developing Chrome, a product Pichai led, suggesting a historical mentorship context.
Based on available information, Eric Schmidt's public stance toward Sundar Pichai has remained consistently positive and supportive since the CEO appointment. There is no public indication that his position has evolved negatively.