The head of Google’s operations in South Africa, American born Stephen Newton, will be leaving the company at the end of May.
After only one year as Google’s country manager, Newton has resigned his position citing personal reasons.
Contacted by ITNewsAfrica.com, Julie Taylor, Newton’s personal assistant, said: “I can confirm Stephen Newton will be leaving Google South Africa at the end of May, to pursue his own entrepreneurial activities. We have candidates in the pipeline but we are certainly looking for more. In the meantime, all day-to-day business activities and product announcements will continue as normal”.
Newton succeeded South African Stafford Masie, who left Google’s local operations to get involved in his own technology start-up.
Newton’s contribution to Google South Africa included the launch of Google Street View, investment in mobile advertising platform Admob and significant local improvements to Google Maps.
Google’s official statement released after Newton’s resignation, read “Stephen brought extensive global experience in the online space to Google South Africa as country manager, and managed to expand the business significantly. We thank him and wish him all the best luck for the future. We are committed to South Africa and intend to recruit a South African candidate to take the business to the next level”.
According to newstime.co.za, the company has already sourced a temporary head from Israel to fill Newton’s position from May onwards.
Taylor advised interested parties to visit Google’s jobs site at http://www.google.com/jobs/africa/.
