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Exclusive: Google CEO Larry Page completes major reorganization of Internet search giant

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Larry Page, who returned as chief executive of Google on Monday, put his stamp on how he will run the Internet giant with a major reorganization of his management team on Thursday.

The move comes three days after top Google executive Jonathan Rosenberg resigned from the Internet giant as Page began to try to restore the sense of urgency and innovation that was once the company’s calling card.

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On Thursday, Page put key executives in charge of their individual product groups. They will report directly to him.

A Google spokesman confirmed that a reorganization had taken place but would not comment on the details.

He said that when Google announced Page would become CEO, the company was clear his top priority would be to create clear lines of accountability and responsibility across Google. After carefully examining how things were done at Google, Page decided to make management changes to streamline the product and engineering structures with essentially one lead managing each functional group, he said.

Those promotions include Andy Rubin who is now senior vice president of mobile; Vic Gundotra who is now senior vice president of social; Sundar Pichai who is now senior vice president of Chrome; Salar Kamangar who is now senior vice president of YouTube and video; Alan Eustace, who is now senior vice president of search; and Susan Wojcicki, who is now senior vice president of ads.

The executives will be able to act more autonomously and won’t have to turn to Google’s powerful operating committee on every decision.

‘The idea is to empower people, let them take risks and give them more authority over decisions,’ said one person familiar with the situation who spoke on the condition of anonymity to maintain his relationship with Google.

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Page has been thinking about how to reorganize the company to cut bureaucracy and politicking while speeding up innovation. He may have found his answer in the success of the company’s Android mobile software unit and its video-sharing site YouTube, each of which have thrived as largely autonomous entities.

The reorganization also puts Page firmly in charge of Google and its performance in much the same way Steve Jobs runs Apple.

So far, the leadership changes have been met with enthusiasm on Google’s Mountain View, Calif., campus, where sources say energy is running high.

Page and fellow Google co-founder Sergey Brin, who is focused on major strategic initiatives, have offices next to each other in a recently renovated building on the campus. They are down the hall from executive chairman Eric Schmidt and surrounded by engineers working on key products for Google.

‘Across the company, there are all kinds of new things being built right now,’ said one person who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak for the company.

-- Jessica Guynn

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