Sundar Pichai
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| ' | |
| Born | 10 June 1972 (age 53) Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India |
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| Nationality | Indian-American |
| Education | * IIT Kharagpur (B.Tech)
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| Alma mater | |
| Occupation | CEO of Alphabet Inc. and Google |
| Years active | |
| Known for | Leading Google Chrome, Android (operating system) |
| Notable works | * Google Chrome
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| Awards | Included in Time 100 Most Influential People |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Parents | |
| Religion | |
| Website | Official Google Profile |
Pichai Sundararajan , known professionally as Sundar Pichai, is an Indian–American business executive and technology leader. He is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Alphabet Inc. and its subsidiary Google LLC.[1]
Born in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India, Pichai studied Metallurgical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. He then earned an M.S. from Stanford University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania..[2]
He joined Google in 2004, where he first worked on the Google Toolbar. He later led the development of the Google Chrome browser, which became the most widely used web browser in the world. Rising through the ranks, he played a key role in overseeing products such as Gmail, Android, Google Drive, and Chrome OS.
In 2015, he was appointed CEO of Google, taking over from co-founder Larry Page.[3] Later, In December 2019, he became CEO of Alphabet Inc., the parent company of Google, after Page and Sergey Brin stepped down from active leadership roles.[4]
Pichai is frequently listed among the world’s most influential business leaders, appearing in Time magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people and in multiple Forbes and Fortune rankings. He is widely recognized for his focus on innovation, digital inclusion, and global leadership in technology.[5]
Early life and education
Sundar Pichai was born on 10 June 1972 in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India. His father, Regunatha Pichai, was an electrical engineer at the British conglomerate GEC, and his mother, Lakshmi, worked as a stenographer.[6]
He grew up in Ashok Nagar, Chennai, where he excelled academically from a young age. Pichai earned a degree in Metallurgical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT KGP). His professors recognized his exceptional talent and encouraged him to pursue graduate studies abroad.[7]
He went on to earn a Master of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University, followed by an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named a Siebel Scholar and Palmer Scholar.[8]
Career
Pichai began his career as an engineer and product manager at Applied Materials. He later worked in management consulting at McKinsey & Company. [9]
HHe joined Google in 2004. His first major project was developing the Google Toolbar, which allowed Internet Explorer and Firefox users to easily access Google search. He later suggested creating a new browser, which resulted in Google Chrome. The browser launched in 2008 and quickly became the most popular web browser worldwide. This established Pichai as an important figure at Google. [10]
Over the years, Pichai took on more responsibilities. He oversaw products like Gmail, Google Maps, and Android. In 2013, he took over from Andy Rubin as head of Android, which increased his influence in the mobile market. .[11]
In August 2015, Pichai became CEO of Google after the formation of Alphabet Inc., Google's new holding company.[12] In December 2019, he succeeded Larry Page as CEO of Alphabet Inc. as well, consolidating his leadership over both Google and its parent company.[13]
Recognition
- Listed in Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2016 and 2020.[14]
- Credited with making Chrome the most used web browser globally and expanding Android’s reach to billions of devices.
- Known for promoting digital inclusion and affordable technology access in developing countries, including initiatives like Android One.[15]
- Recognized for his leadership style emphasizing humility, teamwork, and innovation.
Personal life
Sundar Pichai is married to Anjali Pichai, a chemical engineer, whom he met while studying at IIT Kharagpur. The couple has two children and resides in the San Francisco Bay Area, California.[16]
Outside of work, Pichai is known for his interest in cricket and football. He has spoken about how playing cricket in his childhood taught him teamwork and strategy, values he later applied in his career.[17]
See Also
References
- ↑ Sundar Pichai Biography . In Encyclopaedia Britannica . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai Education and Early Life . In Investopedia . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai named new Google CEO . In Forbes . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai becomes CEO of Alphabet . In The Guardian (4 December 2019) . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ TIME 100: Sundar Pichai . In TIME (2020) . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai – Early Life . In Encyclopaedia Britannica . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai education profile . In Business Standard . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai Education . In Investopedia . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai Career before Google . In Forbes . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ How Sundar Pichai created Google Chrome . In Encyclopaedia Britannica . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai Android leadership . In The Guardian (13 March 2013) . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Google Names Sundar Pichai CEO . In CNBC (10 August 2015) . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai replaces Larry Page as Alphabet CEO . In The Guardian (4 December 2019) . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ TIME 100: Sundar Pichai . In TIME (2020) . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai’s vision for digital inclusion . In Forbes . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai Family . In Business Standard . Retrieved 3 September 2025
- ↑ Sundar Pichai on cricket and leadership . In Mint (2021) . Retrieved 3 September 2025