(Chronicle note: Nikesh Arora is one of the highest ranking executives among our alumni. Currently he is President of Google for Europe, Middle East and
40, president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, Google
One of Google's most senior executives outside Silicon valley, Arora joined the company after being interviewed by founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin as he was wandering around the British Museum. He is responsible for Google's business across 28 offices with a team of more than 2,500 people.
When the Indian-born executive arrived in December 2004, Google EMEA had less than 500 employees in 10 offices.
Now the most powerful online brand in the world, Google commands more than two thirds of the paid-for search advertising market and is seeking to extend that dominance into the display market, provided EU regulators allow its acquisition of DoubleClick.
Arora was hired to help Google to mirror its American growth in other markets, Britain in particular. His success has seen US-educated Arora linked with several high-profile UK chief executive positions.
Dressed-down in style, yet hugely ambitious, Arora was formerly chief marketing officer T-Mobile and before that part of the asset management team at Putnam Investments, focusing on global technology and telecoms.
Related links:
http://www.itbhuglobal.org/chronicle/archives/2006/11/#001462