Leaked Memo Suggests Google Workspace Chief To Step Down

A leaked memo has suggested plans for the Head of Google Workspace to step down.

Aparna Pappu, VP and GM at Google Workspace, is the executive being referred to. She has led the Workspace team since July 2022, when she took over from Javier Soltero, President of Cloud Applications and former VP and GM at Google Workspace.

The US-based business news publication Business Insider reported on the news, along with the alleged decision for Jerry Dischler, President of Cloud Applications at Google, to take the reins.

Business Insider shared the memo that was written by Pappu and subsequently circulated with Workspace employees:

I’m ready for the next opportunity at Google and stepping down from my current role as GM of Workspace.”

Pappu continued: “That’s really the best feeling of all — when your team has ‘got this.”’

“And we’ve especially got this AI thing — we know what we need to do, and we’re razor-focused on execution.”

“With all that in mind, I knew it was time for something new for me.”

Dischler Takes the Helm

Pappu disclosed that she will take up a new position at Google but will help to smooth the transition for her successor by adopting an advisory role at Workspace.

According to Business Insider, Anurag Agarwal, Vice President of Engineering at Google Workspace, and Yuli Kwon Kim, Vice President of Product at Google Workspace, will now report to Dischler.

Dischler took on the role of president of cloud applications earlier this year, following 15 years working on Google’s ads. His work centres around delivering AI to customer businesses.

The executive reshuffle was confirmed by a Google spokesperson:

After more than six years working on Workspace, Aparna Pappu is ready for her next challenge at Google and will be moving to a new role.”

Google has also appointed Pat McCarthy, former Chief Revenue Officer at Precisely, as the Head of Sales at Google Workspace, a “person of knowledge” told Business Insider, which was also shown in an internal organisation chart.

Bob Frati previously served as Workspace’s head of sales but resigned earlier this year.

Google Workspace is ‘Razor Focused’

As Pappu says above, Workspace is “razor-focused” on AI right now. The executive overhaul comes as Workspace is competing with Microsoft’s Office 365 Suite to get generative AI tools into customers’ hands.

At the heart of Google’s AI offering is Google Gemini, rebranded from Google Bard. This service is capable of generating content and suggestions for workers, similar to Microsoft’s Copilot and ChatGPT.

In September this year, Google announced that users with Workspace Business, Enterprise, or Frontline plans will be able to access Gemini, enabling ‘millions’ of Workspace users to leverage the AI-powered assistant.

Google Workspace shared its internal company analysis of pilot surveys from 18 enterprises around the world, which demonstrated that users saved an average of 105 minutes per week and that 75 percent reported that it had enhanced the quality of their work.