Genentech chairman Arthur D. Levinson is resigning from Google’s Board of Directors, the Mountain View company announced earlier this morning. His departure comes shortly after Google Chairman and CEO Eric Schmidt resigned from the board of Apple, where Levinson is also a director.
No reason for the departure was given in the statement, but it’s safe to assume that it has something to do with the growing tension between Google and Apple, which is still being investigated by the FTC.
In the statement, Schmidt describes Levinson as a good friend and valued colleague:
“Art has been a key part of Google’s success these past five years, offering unvarnished advice and vital counsel on every big issue and opportunity Google has faced,” Schmidt said.
“Though he leaves as a member of our Board, Art will always have a special place at Google.”
Earlier this month, Eric Schmidt at a conference said Levinson should stay on the boards of both Google and Apple despite regulatory scrutiny. He stated he saw no reason for any changes to that because an antitrust test for overlapping board members of Apple and Google relating to revenue overlap would be easily passed.
Despite his remarks, it’s perfectly conceivable that there was simply too much outside and internal pressure for Levinson to continue to sit on both boards. Now that Levinson is departing the Google board after all, there are no longer any ties between both companies on a director level, although former Vice President Al Gore continues to reside on Apple’s board while also serving as a senior advisor to Google.
For now.
Hah! “Art will always have a special place at Google.” – what’s that?
seriously man… these google guys some time over do their dont be evil stuff… a guy is saying fuck of and you replying back “you will have a special place”….
Then again, as the article states we have no idea of the current relationship between Google and Apple, or Eric and Art.
The media has to comply with the documents filed for FTC.
Think big picture. If Google and Apple can work together, they can pull of a major heist in taking down ‘phones’ as we know it. Google provides the infrastructure (Android) and Apple has the most widely adopted consumer platform.
ATT should be scared, so should the other Cell Providers.
The most interesting thing about this division is that Levinson and Schmidt look to have come from the same DNA pool. Is it possible that they are clones created by the 23andme chicks (financed by the Google chicks)?
Steve Ballmer should join Google’s board.
He should join Gates foundation.
He is waiting for Google to make a better offer
So Google going Cleantech instead of Nanotech?!
“War, huh, good god y’all
What is it good for?
Absolutely nothin’
Say it again!”
Actually it’s good for the blogosphere like Congress is good for the Daily Show.
How is 2 months considered “shortly after” ?
Maybe a couple or 3 weeks – same week.
But 2 months – No.
+1
He’s been on the Google board since April 2004. If he leaves nine weeks after Schmidt does, I call that a short time.
Is Arthur D. Levinson really Eric Schmidt in disguise? They look eerily similar!
awesome, spat of the billionaire nerds…..
Arthur D. Levinson is Bizarro Eric Schmidt.
People are leaving all over the place. They have a lot more choice than most people, as anteje mentioned up above!
“…it’s safe to assume that it has something to do with the growing tension between Google and Apple, which is still being investigated by the FTC.”
The FTC is not investigating the “tension” between the two companies. It’s looking into whether the cozy relationship between the two companies might hinder competition. Please use your words more carefully.
Is Al Gore on Google’s board or only Apple’s???
If Eric Smith quoted correctly might be he’s high on his personal self spouting out ”Oh thats just a regulatory showcase”
Yeah Arthur hang on to the ride your with Google and Apple bullets bounce of your chest now ,
Ask former Microsoft CEO Bill Gates he knows how it go’s .
Oi and antitrust fancytrust hang with the Eric man its all good not. Talking about your real Napoleon complex *tsk.
No Arthur made his choice wisely me thinks.