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US Internet search giant Google adds to China team
(AFP)
Updated: 2005-10-26 16:33
Google increased its focus on China by hiring a sales veteran to lead the US
Internet search powerhouse's marketing strategy in that country, the company
announced.
A woman works on her computer as the logo of
web search engine Google is seen on the wall.
[AFP] |
Johnny Chou will "establish and lead Google's sales and business development operations in
Greater China," the Silicon Valley company said in a written
release.
Chou was hired away from UT Starcom, where he was president of that company's
China operations for nine years, according to Google.
"The leadership and experience that Johnny Chou brings to Google will be an
invaluable asset to Google's plans for developing its business operations in
China," said Omid Kordestani, senior vice president of Google's Worldwide Sales
and Field Operations.
"Johnny Chou has a proven track record of leading businesses to success in
the complex Chinese market and will accelerate our efforts to establish Google's
operations in China."
Chou will work with Lee Kaifu, a former Microsoft executive wooed away from
the US software giant earlier this year to establish and oversee a Google
research center in China, according to Google.
Lee took up his post in China after Microsoft lost a court battle in the
United States seeking to block the move.
Lee, a former vice president with Microsoft, was given the green light in
September by a judge who said Lee could give Google non-technical advice on
doing business in China.
Microsoft had argued Lee was violating confidentiality and non-competition
clauses in his employee contract and could damage the company by giving Google
access to its corporate secrets.
The judge barred Lee, a computer scientist known for pioneering work in the
areas of speech recognition and artificial intelligence, from carrying out work
related to computer searches, speech, or languages.
He was also ordered not to disclose any trade secrets he gleaned from
Microsoft.
A civil trial that promises to have Google and Microsoft slugging it out in
court over Lee is pending.
After arriving in China, Lee said his immediate aim was to recruit 50 college
graduates this year, and hire engineers from within the industry.
Lee has been tasked with setting up the US Internet search giant's
development centre in China. A decision is expected to be made soon on whether
to locate it in Beijing or Shanghai, he said.
Lee and Chou will jointly oversee overall operations at Google's center in
China, according to the company.
Chou will lead Google's sales and business development activities while Lee
will spearhead Google's public affairs and the creation of the company's
research and development center, the company said.
Google has heralded the creation of the centre as a sign of its strong
commitment to cultivating Chinese talent as well as its intent to form alliances
with universities and institutes.
"The opening of an R and D center in China will strengthen Google's efforts
in delivering the best search experience to our users and partners worldwide,"
Alan Eustace, vice president of engineering at Google, said earlier this
year.
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