Add another one to the list of Google employee departures: Google VP Engineering Douglas Merrill has resigned, a source says (and confirmed here), and will be joining UK and NY-based big music label EMI Group as President.
Merrill joined Google in 2003 as Senior Director of Information Systems. In the position he just left, he held direct line responsibility for all internal engineering and support worldwide. He was previously an SVP at Charles Schwab and Co.
Why would someone would jump ship from the do no evil company into one of the most despised industries in the world? I don’t have the details yet, but I look forward to reading the official press release when it comes out in the next few days.
One thing’s for certain - he finally found a place for that rock star haircut he’s sporting in the video below. Congratulations on the move, Doug, and Just Say No to a music tax.
Q: Why would someone would jump ship from the do no evil company into one of the most despised industries in the world?
A: paycheck $$$$ (probably bigger than yours Michael :p )
not just for money but emi is probably going online only and you need a person that lived in the internet world to get the job done and it must be something big.
@3 - I agree. They must be having a big online initiative and who better to head it up than an ex-Googler - plus as @1 said - Money talks. He must have gotten a fat paycheck, signing bonus, options, private jet, etc.. etc..
Rex
Wow. He’s gonna have his hands full with EMI (and in that industry in general). BUT, who doesn’t love a challenge?
His notion of finding the best talent wherever that may be was probably the strategy taken from EMI!
could you tell us…who has joined google lately?
The new head of EMI (Guy Hands) has spoken a lot about cutting back costs, so don’t get too carried away with the salary. That said, I’m sure it’s not to be sniffed at, but I’m not sure I’d join a company even the artists don’t want to record for.
As for the recoding industry being one of the most despised, we all love a bit of headline grabbing, but can we have a bit of perspective?
I’m starting to think that Google is covertly training these people as clandestine cover operatives and sending them out to various companies in order to infiltrate management so that one day they’ll get a phone call to activate their manchurian orders. Like selling to Google. Or cancel the Microsoft ad account.
Or maybe he has all the money he needs and wants to do something more interesting, meaningful, fun.
He’s probably the kind of guy who prefers a challenging environment, with the opportunity of turning a technological laggard (EMI) into a winner, over the ho-hum reality of cruising along as part of a market leader (Google).
Haha… I love Eric Schmidt’s quote 30 seconds in. “We’re literally eating our own dogfood…”. So much for the acclaimed Google cafeterias…
“I’m starting to think that Google is covertly training these people as clandestine cover operatives and sending them out to various companies in order to infiltrate management so that one day they’ll get a phone call to activate their manchurian orders. Like selling to Google. Or cancel the Microsoft ad account.”
hmmm…I am definitely with you this.
April Fool’s Jack A**
If this is true, it’d be funny because he was just on the cover of a magazine for why Google is cool.
Doubt it though.
Whoa! He literally sat right behind my desk while I was at Google. Best of luck with your new venture, Doug!
Guess that death metal side project finally paid off. Google is looking more and more like it’s on the Yahoo track.
@10
I had it playing in the background and thought I heard Dog Poo — had to go back and relisten to it.
….Maybe now the boy can afford a better sweater
come on guys… you believe this on 4/1?
hmm…he was at google from 2003-2008 in an executive role
that should put his savings in 8 figures easily
i doubt its the money, probably got bored
Makes me laugh , only a few years back companies were up in arms about Google stealing the best talent and how they could not compete with Google.
Looks like now Google is the one who will soon complain because nobody wants to work there.
Elaborate April Fools joke on Merrill’s part?
you suck michael, that diss on the hair is funny.
people moving from google is fast becoming a trend
roger federer is now the president of EMI? that has to be an april fools joke.
….”Why would someone would jump ship from the do no evil company into one of the most despised industries in the world?”
1) Because he is already wealthy off GOOG stock
2) Now that he is already rich he has an ego and wants the Title of President.
3) Because he truly feels that he can someone save the industry. Unfortunately, his delusional view will bring him back to earth and ground him. Buy, hey why does he care. He’s already rich.
4) His $600 new options are under water.
Its actually pretty simple. Agree?
Title.
too be #1 of course.
Wow, the guy went in just before the IPO, and got the cash for it. Cool.
Hmm, fresh off his “Fast Company” cover.
Dumbest Career move EVER. EVER.
A music label? in 2008??? WhaWhaWhaaatt?
Hold on I have to submit my resume to the Almalgamated Horse Drawn Conveyance Group, LLC.
It totally makes sense. The music labels need all the help they can get finding a new business model. They totally regret killing Napster.
I’m not afraid for Google, they’ve got a really strong leadership pipeline - the bench is full of bright and hungry people just waiting to be promoted. That top managers and executive leave to run other company is just a recognition of their leadership development. It’s like GE who has all these great VPs and unit Presidents leaving to become CEOs of other companies because they cannot all become CEO of GE at the same time.
As for Merrill, the guy is probably looking for a challenge. As a very successful person said to me: “find the deepest smelliest swamp and in head first because that’s where you can usually make the biggest splash”. I think EMI and swamp pretty much are synonymous these days…
Source for this news was apparently furrier.org
http://furrier.org/2008/04/01/.....ent-of-emi
Maybe, just maybe, there’s a splinter of hope left for EMI after all.
It’s a “smart” move by everyone involved (he gets lots of cash, they finally get someone at the C level who understands digital media), and it may be what helps EMI swim a little longer than the other labels; however, it remains to be seen if the labels will survive in the long run. In perfect capitalism, I’d say no way. However, in the US, they might just find a way to scratch and claw their way to profitability.
In the short run, though, congrats to both sides. I’d say good luck, but I yearn for a world without major labels.
“If this is true, it’d be funny because he was just on the cover of a magazine for why Google is cool.”
Haha… that issue of Fast Company is sitting right beside me. I saw his pic on the post, and I was like “HUH!? He’s right here!”
The Google brain-drain is really taking hold…
I guess when your stock options fall by 50% in 6 months, and KEEP falling, it’s time to bail.
Google Hosting
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When a search company start selling domain registration and web/email hosting it is finished…. they do it only when their primary biz concept start failing…. yahoo went down through the same path….
No key people have started bailing out.
I would have to agree. The hosting market is in a depressed state, why is Google selling domains and hosting anyway?? No one is going to buy it! But maybe they are going to buy Godaddy?? hmm - more web ads!
The link for the video is incorrect - try this one from the Google Channel:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s_a-gn0dYmk