Susan Wojcicki, a pivotal figure in Google’s history and the longtime CEO of YouTube, has passed away at the age of 56. Wojcicki, who was Google’s 16th employee, played a crucial role in shaping the company’s growth from its early days. Her death was confirmed by her husband, Dennis Troper, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai.
Joining Google in 1998, Wojcicki became the CEO of YouTube in 2014, guiding the platform for nearly a decade before stepping down in February 2023 to focus on family, health, and personal projects. Both Troper and Pichai disclosed that Wojcicki had been battling non-small cell lung cancer. Earlier this year, her son, Marco Troper, also passed away.
Throughout her career, Wojcicki was instrumental in driving Google’s advertising business and transforming YouTube into a global platform where new celebrities and influencers thrive. In 2014, she was recognized as one of the 50 most influential people shaping the world.
In a memo to Google employees, Sundar Pichai expressed deep sorrow over Wojcicki’s passing, praising her significant impact and lasting legacy. According to a report by The Verge, Pichai’s memo stated, “Susan was one of the most active and vibrant people I have ever met. Her loss is devastating for all of us who know and love her, for the thousands of Googlers she led over the years, and for millions of people around the world who admired her, benefited from her advocacy, and felt the impact of the incredible things she created at Google, YouTube, and beyond.”
Pichai reflected on Wojcicki’s journey from renting her garage to Google’s founders, to leading YouTube and improving the workplace. “Susan’s journey, from the garage she rented to Larry and Sergey … to leading teams across consumer products and building our Ads business … to becoming the CEO of YouTube, one of the world’s most significant platforms, is inspiring by any measure,” Pichai wrote.
He also remembered a personal moment during his Google interview, recalling Wojcicki’s kindness. “I’ll never forget her kindness to me as a prospective ‘Noogler’ 20 years ago. During my Google interview, she took me out for an ice cream and a walk around campus. I was sold – on Google and Susan,” he shared.
Beyond her professional success, Wojcicki was dedicated to philanthropy, even while battling cancer. “Over the last two years, even as she dealt with great personal difficulties, Susan devoted herself to making the world better through her philanthropy,” Pichai noted.
As Google and YouTube move forward, Pichai encouraged everyone to honor Wojcicki’s memory by building a company she would be proud of, emphasizing her profound influence on both the company and the industry.
