Google Breaks Up Mapping And Commerce Unit, Sends Jeff Huber To Google X

Google has decided to break up the unit that formerly combined mapping and commerce in a mini-reorganization coinciding with the transfer of Android to the leadership of Chrome SVP Sundar Pichai.

Jeff Huber who formerly ran the combined commerce + local group is now becoming part of Sergey Brin’s “Google X” team. According to the Wall Street Journal:

The mapping unit will become part of the Google search team, led by Alan Eustace, and the commerce unit will be tucked into the advertising group, led by Susan Wojcicki. 

The change may have been prompted by some tension in the combination of mapping and commerce, which includes Google Wallet. Google Maps is hugely successful, but some of Google’s newer commerce initiatives are struggling and perhaps need more focused attention than was possible under the previous structure.

As the Journal also mentions, “some top executives in [Huber’s] unit also have departed over the past few years” (read: Marissa Mayer).

After the mini-reorg of yesterday and today, the top product-leadership team at Google now looks like this:

• Alan Eustace, Senior Vice President, Knowledge (and Geo/Maps)
• Vic Gundotra, Senior Vice President, Engineering (Google+)
• Salar Kamangar, Senior Vice President, YouTube and Video
• Sundar Pichai, Senior Vice President, Chrome and Apps (and Android)
• Susan Wojcicki, Senior Vice President, Advertising (and Commerce)