Search giant names new CFO

Source: Exec Digital USA

Date :6/26/2008 4:00:42 AM

Google Inc names Bell Canada executive Patrick Pichette as its new Chief Financial Officer, succeeding George Reyes, who had earlier announced his plans to retire.

Google’s year long search for a new CFO has reached climax with news that the search giant has given the role to Patrick Pichette, president of operations at Bell Canada.

A 20-year veteran of Canada's telecommunications industry, Pichette starts at the Internet leader on August 1 and will take over as chief financial officer on August 12.

Pichette was instrumental in moving Bell Canada from traditional circuit-switched technology to an all Internet protocol network. In 2002-2003, he served as CFO of Bell Canada, the operating unit of BCE Inc.

He was also one of two senior executives to announce their departure from BCE on Wednesday, June 25.

Reyes, who spent five years managing the Web search company's ferocious growth while upholding a policy of refusing to give financial forecasts, said last August he would retire as Google's finance chief.

It’s not known what Reyes’ next move will be.