YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki is stepping down from her role after nine years at the helm of the online video sharing service and 25 years at Google and Alphabet.
“I’ve decided to step back from my role as the head of YouTube and start a new chapter focused on my family, health, and personal projects I’m passionate about,” Wojcicki said in a publicly shared memo to employees. “The time is right for me, and I feel able to do this because we have an incredible leadership team in place at YouTube.”
In addition to working on Alphabet and Google’s YouTube and DoubleClick acquisitions, Wojcicki co-created Google Image Search, led Google’s first Video and Book search and served as senior vice president of ads. She’s also notable for being Google’s first landlord, having rented her Menlo Park, Calif., garage to co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin, only later agreeing to join the company as an employee.
Chief product officer Neal Mohan will become the new head of YouTube. Mohan joined Google with the DoubleClick acquisition in 2007 and his role grew to become senior vice president of Display and Video Ads.
Since taking the chief product officer role in 2015, Mohan helped set up YouTube’s product and user experience team, led the company’s safety and trust team and played pivotal roles in the launch of YouTube TV, YouTube Music and Premium and Shorts.
“He has a wonderful sense for our product, our business, our creator and user communities, and our employees,” Wojcicki said. “With all we’re doing across Shorts, streaming, and subscriptions, together with the promises of AI, YouTube’s most exciting opportunities are ahead, and Neal is the right person to lead us.”
Wojcicki said she would support Mohan and help with the transition, including continuing to work with some YouTube teams, coaching team members, and meeting with creators. She will also take on an advisory role across Google and Alphabet.
“This will allow me to call on my different experiences over the years to offer counsel and guidance across Google and the portfolio of Alphabet companies,” she added. “It’s an incredibly important time for Google—it reminds me of the early days—incredible product and technology innovation, huge opportunities, and a healthy disregard for the impossible.”
YouTube, which saw its advertising revenue fall 8% year over year to $7.96 billion in the fourth quarter of 2022, has grown to more than 2.6 billion active users. YouTube Music and Premium have surpassed 80 million subscribers, including trialers, and YouTube Shorts is averaging 50 billion daily views.
