Google readies European expansion
Google plans to add more than 1,000 staff in Europe this year as the search giant weighs up prospects for growth in the territory.
The new employees, which will boost headcount by about 20%, will work mainly in London, Munich and Zurich and be split between technology and sales.
Announcing the plan at a conference in Munich yesterday (25 January), outgoing chief executive Eric Schmidt says: “We looked at this year and our prospects for growth in Europe, and our businesses globally are doing well, both our core business and our adjacent businesses.”
Google has identified the UK in particular as an opportunity to grow revenue. The UK accounted for 10% (£552m) of the company’s total revenue in the fourth quarter.
Google’s managing director for UK and Ireland Matt Brittin told Marketing Week that the UK is a major focus for Google.
He adds: “Eric and Larry are often in the UK and are very supportive of our role as the world’s leading e-commerce market and a major mobile engineering hub for Google.”
Last week it was announced that Schmidt is to relinquish his role as chief executive to co-founder Larry Page, who will focus on the day-to-day management of Google, while Schmidt will become executive chairman, responsible for external deals.
Read more about Brittin’s plans for Google in the UK in Marketing Week’s cover feature.
