Google shelled out $100 million to retain Indian-American executive, potentially preventing him from shifting allegiances to Twitter.
Indian-American executive Neal Mohan, a behind-the-scenes innovator in Silicon Valley, played a pivotal role in shaping Google and YouTube's digital advertising landscape. In 2011, his talent and contributions made him a coveted figure in the cutthroat competition for top talent in the tech industry. Twitter, seeking to bolster its leadership, approached Mohan to join as its chief product officer. To retain his services, Google made an extraordinary counteroffer—a $100 million stock grant.
After graduating from Stanford with a degree in electrical engineering, Mohan began his career at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture). He then joined NetGravity, a startup that was later acquired by DoubleClick, marking the start of Mohan's ascent through the ranks. At DoubleClick, Mohan quickly rose from services to sales operations to become Vice President, Business Operations.
Google acquired DoubleClick in 2007 for $3.1 billion, recognizing the company's potential. By 2011, Mohan was instrumental in shaping Google's advertising products and deeply involved in YouTube's product development as Chief Product Officer. His reputation in Silicon Valley had soared.
In a talent tug-of-war, Google offered Mohan a $100 million stock grant to keep him from joining Twitter. The offer, made before Twitter had officially extended an offer, underscored Google's determination to hold onto key talent amidst fierce competition. The move was part of a broader strategy by Google to retain its valuable executives, including Sundar Pichai, who received a $50 million stock grant around the same time.
As a result, Neal Mohan remained with Google and later became the CEO of YouTube, playing a significant role in the growth of the video-sharing platform. Today, he remains a valuable member of the Google family.
- despite Twitter's attempt to attract Neal Mohan with a leadership position, Mohan chose to stay in India's tech industry, working for Google.
- In addition to Mohan, Google also invested heavily in retaining Sundar Pichai, showcasing its commitment to business finance in the technology sector.
- Years after his significant contribution to shaping YouTube's product development, Neal Mohan's influence in the cricket of ideas and innovations in Silicon Valley remains unaffected.
