By Alistair Barr And Sam Schechner
Google Inc. pulled its European operations under a single
executive to better align the business with large customers and
develop a more unified responses to rising regulatory pressure in
the region.
Google said it merged two European units--one previously
responsible for Northern and Western Europe, and a second for
Southern and Eastern Europe--into a single business, run from
London by President EMEA Business & Operations Matt Brittin.
The executives responsible for its country operations in Europe now
report to him.
The changes, reported earlier by the Financial Times, come as
Google faces mounting pressure in Europe over issues ranging from
its tax payments to allegations that it abuses its power to thwart
competitors.
European governments and the EU are entering the final stages of
negotiation over a tough new data-privacy law. That is part of a
broader effort to form a single digital market stitching together
the region's fragmented rules into one standard for online privacy,
copyright and consumer rights.
It also is dealing with an antitrust investigation into its
search practices in Europe. The probe is being pursued by EU
antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager after three attempted
settlements collapsed under her predecessor, Joaquín Almunia. Any
deal could lead to multibillion-dollar fines for Google, and the
current investigation is spreading to look into the way Google
manages its Android mobile operating system.
In another setback, the EU's top court ruled last year that
Google had to honor requests of people who wanted certain links
removed in search results for their name. The decision was rooted
in European law that values privacy more highly, and free speech
less so, than in the U.S.
A Google spokesman said the new organizational structure better
matches how Google customers and partners, such as advertisers,
developers, content creators and telecom companies, operate across
Europe. The changes will make Mr. Brittin a single point of contact
for regulators and policy makers, the spokesman said.
Following the changes, Carlo D'Asaro Biondo, who led Southern
and Eastern Europe, now oversees relationships with Google's
commercial partners in Europe.
The previous structure was set up by Nikesh Arora, who was
replaced last year as Google's Chief Business Officer by Omid
Kordestani. Mr. Arora created two units to spur competition among
Google staff in the region.
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