Susan Wojcicki, a notable figure in the tech industry and former CEO of YouTube, has passed away at the age of 56, as announced by her husband.
Wojcicki had a significant impact on the development of Google and served as YouTube’s CEO for nine years, stepping down last year to prioritize her family, health, and personal interests. She was widely recognized as one of the most influential female executives in a predominantly male field.
Her relationship with Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin began shortly after they established their search engine business in 1998, when she rented them a garage in Menlo Park, California. This arrangement led to an essential collaboration that lasted for five months before Google expanded into a formal office and later brought Wojcicki on board as a marketing manager in 1999. Over the years, she held various key positions within the company as Google grew through acquisitions like YouTube in 2006 and DoubleClick in 2008, ultimately serving as senior vice president of advertising and commerce and then as YouTube’s CEO.
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai expressed deep sorrow at her passing, highlighting the widespread admiration and impact she had on countless colleagues and users around the world. Former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg shared her reflections on Wojcicki’s mentorship during her own career, noting the profound influence she had on many aspiring tech leaders.
Wojcicki’s husband, Dennis Troper, shared news of her death on social media, revealing that she had been battling non-small cell lung cancer for two years. In his tribute, he honored her as a loving mother and brilliant mind.
Further details about her passing have not been disclosed. Wojcicki and Troper had five children together, including their 19-year-old son, Marco, who sadly passed away in February while studying at UC Berkeley.