David Drummond is stepping down as chief legal officer of Google's parent company Alphabet, amid an internal investigation into sexual misconduct that involved Drummond both for how he handled complaints (including one against former Android chief Andy Rubin) and for his own workplace relationships.
Why it matters: Drummond has been with Google for nearly two decades, and in charge of everything from its legal and regulatory strategy to its investment activities.
- Drummond's last day will be on Jan. 31, and he will not receive a severance package.
- In recent months, he's been selling hundreds of millions of dollars worth of Alphabet stock.
Forbes was first to report the pending departure, which the company has since confirmed to Axios.
Our thought bubble: This is a clear signal that new Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai is fully in charge. Pichai, who also continues to run Google, has said that he would have no tolerance for harassment and that no future employees leaving after such issues would get exit packages.
What they're saying: Drummond today sent a letter to Google employees. It reads, in part:
Bill Maris, who founded Google's venture capital arm and reported directly to Drummond before quitting in 2016, tells Axios:
