&w=3840&q=100)
Inside Google's $100 mn gamble to retain YouTube CEO Neal Mohan in 2011
Kamath recalled reading about the extraordinary counteroffer made by Google in 2011. 'I remember reading this thing about Google offering you $100 million not to quit. Not today, but 15 years ago, which was a lot of money,' Kamath said. Mohan did not deny the claim.
Inside the $100 million deal
At the time, Mohan was a central figure in Google's advertising and YouTube product strategy. Twitter, aiming to strengthen its product leadership, had approached Mohan for the position of Chief Product Officer. The offer was reportedly championed by David Rosenblatt, Mohan's former boss at DoubleClick and a board member at X.
Sensing the risk of losing a valuable resource, Google swiftly responded with a counteroffer — restricted stock units worth over $100 million that would vest over several years. The offer was made even before an official one came through from X, according to a 2011 TechCrunch report. The move underscored Mohan's growing influence and the strategic importance Google placed on keeping him.
Interestingly, Mohan was not the only Google executive X was eyeing. Sundar Pichai, then leading Chrome and Chrome OS, was also approached. Google responded with a $50 million stock grant to retain him.
From startup roots to Silicon Valley leadership
Neal Mohan's career trajectory reveals why Google was so determined to keep him. A Stanford University graduate in electrical engineering, Mohan started as a senior analyst at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in 1994. In 1997, he joined NetGravity, which was later acquired by DoubleClick.
At DoubleClick, Mohan rose to become vice-president of business operations. He was instrumental in reshaping the company during tough times, and when Google acquired it in 2007 for $3.1 billion, Mohan transitioned into a senior role in Google's ad division.
By 2011, he was already shaping YouTube's product roadmap and had become indispensable to Google's product development efforts. The $100 million retention deal turned out to be a prudent investment — his work proved pivotal in shaping YouTube's future.
Rise of a quiet tech leader
Mohan's impact continued to grow after the failed X move. In 2015, he was appointed Chief Product Officer at YouTube, and by 2023, he had succeeded Susan Wojcicki as CEO of the platform.
Despite his low public profile, Mohan remains one of the most influential figures in tech. Beyond his executive role, Mohan is also an Advisory Council Member at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Economic Times
5 hours ago
- Economic Times
Google confirms it's combining Chrome OS and Android into a single unified platform
Gugul plans to merge Chrome OS with Android. This aims to create a single platform for phones, tablets, and laptops. Chromebooks and Android tablets will run on a desktop-optimized Android version. This shift simplifies development and enhances AI integration. Users will experience seamless app usage across devices. Developers benefit from fewer compatibility issues. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Simplified Development: A single operating system streamlines engineering efforts and avoids the need to develop features separately for Chrome OS and Android. AI Integration: Android becomes a more suitable base for advanced AI tools, especially those powered by Google Gemini, across all form factors. Competitive Tablets: With the best of both Android and Chrome OS, future Android tablets could finally pose a strong challenge to Apple's iPad. A seamless experience across smartphones, tablets, and laptops. A broader, more consistent library of apps that function uniformly across devices. Fewer compatibility issues and a standardized set of tools. A larger potential user base, including traditional Android users and Chromebook users under one platform. Security and Updates: Chrome OS is known for its robust security and hassle-free automatic updates. It's unclear how these will be implemented in the new Android-based system. Desktop Experience: There's uncertainty over whether the desktop version of Android will offer the same usability and functionality as Chrome OS or if it will feel like a mobile interface scaled for bigger screens. After years of speculation, Google has officially confirmed that it is working to merge Chrome OS into Android , marking a major shift in its operating system strategy. This move aims to consolidate its platforms into a single, unified experience across all types of devices—phones, tablets, laptops, and Samat, President of Google's Android Ecosystem, confirmed in a recent interview that Chrome OS will no longer remain a separate operating system. Going forward, devices like Chromebooks and Android tablets are expected to run on a desktop-optimized version of Android. This transition builds upon existing shared infrastructure, as Chrome OS already uses Android's Linux kernel and other core goal is to enhance the Android ecosystem to support not only mobile devices but also offer a more powerful, desktop-like environment—complete with multi-window interfaces, support for Linux apps, external displays, and browser decision to consolidate its platforms offers several key advantages:For users, this integration could bring:For developers, benefits include:While the shift is promising, a few important concerns have yet to be addressed:Google is reportedly testing a desktop mode for Android that includes window management tools, multi-window support, and even Linux terminal access. There are also rumors of a new "Pixel Laptop" prototype running this new version of desktop Android instead of Chrome Google has noticeably slowed Chromebook releases in 2025, a move that industry watchers see as a sign of preparation for a major operating system bold move to unify Android and Chrome OS could redefine how we experience computing across devices. As the lines between mobile and desktop continue to blur, the tech giant appears to be positioning Android as the single ecosystem of the future—smart, AI-ready, and seamless across screens.
NDTV
6 hours ago
- NDTV
Techie Commits Rs 1 Crore To Fix Bengaluru's Traffic: "I Am Willing To..."
As Bengaluru grapples with chronic traffic congestion, driven by rapid urbanisation and a booming IT industry, Prashant Pitti, co-founder of EaseMyTrip, has come up with an initiative to solve the crisis. Mr Pitti has pledged Rs 1 crore to identify and fix the Garden City's choke points using artificial intelligence (AI) and Google Maps data. Mr Pitti took to X (formerly Twitter) to share his idea, having grown frustrated after spending over two hours covering just 11 kilometres on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) over the weekend. "I was stuck at one choke-point at ORR, where I spent 100 mins struggling to understand why there is no traffic-light or cop here! But I don't want one more 'Bengaluru Traffic Memes or Rant'. I WANT TO FIX IT," wrote Mr Pitti. "I am willing to spend INR 1 Crore on this project by funding: 1-2 senior ML/AI engineers. And providing budget for using Google Maps API calls, Satellite Imagery & GPUs." After receiving significant interest from users, Mr Pitti shared a Google form for individuals to contact him and share the expertise they can bring to the table. See the post here: I am committing INR 1 Cr to find Bangalore Choke-Points via Google Maps & AL. 11 km → 2.15 hours in Bangalore Traffic on Saturday late night! I was stuck at one choke-point at ORR, where I spent 100 mins struggling to understand why there is no traffic-light or cop here! But… — Prashant Pitti (@ppitti) July 14, 2025 Also Read | "Time To Leave": Frustrated By Bengaluru's Traffic, Man Decides To Move To... As of the last update, the post had received over 4,000 likes and hundreds of comments, with the majority lauding the move whilst others exploring ways how the initiative could be implemented on the ground. "Good initiative! Honestly, Bengaluru needs good roads, free from congestion," said one user while another added: "Fantastic commitment and it will be truly a replicable civic achievement in the making, when (and not IF) you succeed." A third commented: "Better you contact MPs like @Tejasvi_Surya and @PCMohanMP atleast they may listen to you. Talking to the traffic police will give you no results." A fourth said: "We need more citizens to be part of Namma Bengaluru Improvements. Thank you Prashant." Being the tech capital of the country, Bengaluru's population has surged rapidly, with over 13 million residents and millions of vehicles clogging its roads. Narrow streets, inadequate public transport, and ongoing infrastructure projects exacerbate the issue. Peak-hour commutes can stretch hours, impacting productivity and quality of life. Despite initiatives like metro expansions and traffic management apps, challenges persist due to poor urban planning and high vehicle density.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Google confirms it's combining Chrome OS and Android into a single unified platform
After years of speculation, Google has officially confirmed that it is working to merge Chrome OS into Android , marking a major shift in its operating system strategy. This move aims to consolidate its platforms into a single, unified experience across all types of devices—phones, tablets, laptops, and beyond. A Unified OS for All Devices Sameer Samat, President of Google's Android Ecosystem, confirmed in a recent interview that Chrome OS will no longer remain a separate operating system. Going forward, devices like Chromebooks and Android tablets are expected to run on a desktop-optimized version of Android. This transition builds upon existing shared infrastructure, as Chrome OS already uses Android's Linux kernel and other core components. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Victoria Principal Is Almost 75, See Her Now Reportingly Undo The goal is to enhance the Android ecosystem to support not only mobile devices but also offer a more powerful, desktop-like environment—complete with multi-window interfaces, support for Linux apps, external displays, and browser extensions. Why Google Is Making the Shift Google's decision to consolidate its platforms offers several key advantages: Live Events Simplified Development: A single operating system streamlines engineering efforts and avoids the need to develop features separately for Chrome OS and Android. AI Integration: Android becomes a more suitable base for advanced AI tools, especially those powered by Google Gemini, across all form factors. Competitive Tablets: With the best of both Android and Chrome OS, future Android tablets could finally pose a strong challenge to Apple's iPad. What This Means for Users and Developers For users, this integration could bring: A seamless experience across smartphones, tablets, and laptops. A broader, more consistent library of apps that function uniformly across devices. For developers, benefits include: Fewer compatibility issues and a standardized set of tools. A larger potential user base, including traditional Android users and Chromebook users under one platform. Open Questions Remain While the shift is promising, a few important concerns have yet to be addressed: Security and Updates: Chrome OS is known for its robust security and hassle-free automatic updates. It's unclear how these will be implemented in the new Android-based system. Desktop Experience: There's uncertainty over whether the desktop version of Android will offer the same usability and functionality as Chrome OS or if it will feel like a mobile interface scaled for bigger screens. What Lies Ahead Google is reportedly testing a desktop mode for Android that includes window management tools, multi-window support, and even Linux terminal access. There are also rumors of a new "Pixel Laptop" prototype running this new version of desktop Android instead of Chrome OS. Additionally, Google has noticeably slowed Chromebook releases in 2025, a move that industry watchers see as a sign of preparation for a major operating system transition. Conclusion Google's bold move to unify Android and Chrome OS could redefine how we experience computing across devices. As the lines between mobile and desktop continue to blur, the tech giant appears to be positioning Android as the single ecosystem of the future—smart, AI-ready, and seamless across screens.
