Sundar Pichai to head parent company Alphabet also

Washington: Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO will also become the chief of the parent company Alphabet after the internet giant's co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin stepped down from their executive roles, making the India-born tech wizard one of the world's most powerful corporate leaders.

Page and Brin are stepping down as CEO and President, respectively, of Alphabet, the company announced on Tuesday. Pichai, 47, the current CEO of Google and a longtime executive at the company, will take over as CEO of Alphabet in addition to his current role.

"I'm excited about Alphabet's long-term focus on tackling big challenges through technology. Thanks to Larry & Sergey, we have a timeless mission, enduring values and a culture of collaboration & exploration - a strong foundation we'll continue to build on," Pichai tweeted after the announcement of his elevation.

"The move confirms the ascendancy of Pichai, as one of tech's most powerful people," The New York Times commented. "Now he is the sole executive in charge of a company that has giant businesses in search, advertising, maps, smartphone software and online video, as well as a variety of fledgling bets in far-off areas like drone deliveries and internet-beaming balloons," it said.

Considered as a significant shakeup in the Silicon Valley company, the shuffle comes at a time when Google is facing mounting scrutiny over its size, data privacy practices and potential impact on society.