Larry Page increases Chennai boy Sundar Pichai's page rank in Google

Bangalore, Oct 25: Search engine giant

has seen a major change in its top hierarchy. Sundar Pichai, who hails from

, Tamil Nadu, has been given more significant role as Google CEO Larry Page transferred leadership of core Google products to Pichai.

According to Recode, the tech giant briefed its employees about recent changes while sending a memo on Oct 24. Although Pichai's official title will not be changed now, it's indeed a very big portfolio for him.

According to the report, Pichai, who has been overseeing Android, Chrome and Google Apps, will now have purview over research, search, maps, Google+, commerce and ad products and infrastructure. All executives in charge of newly added product areas will now report to Pichai directly. These executives previously were reporting to Page.

It has been reported that Page was concerned that Google may lose its power of innovation as it ages. Decision of promoting Pichai seems to be a step to continue the growth of the company. It will help Page to focus on the "bigger picture" as he is currently not able to do so with so many reports and a myriad of duties related to each product unit.

Page will continue to directly manage business and operations, including access and energy (a new unit run by Craig Barratt), Nest, Calico, Google X, corporate development, legal, finance and business (including ad sales), reported Recode.

Who is Sundar Pichai?

Pichai Sundararajan is popularly known as Sundar Pichai. 42-year-old Pichai received his Bachelors in Technology from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur. He holds an MS from Stanford University and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Pichai joined Google in 2004. He has been managing Chrome - the browser and then the OS and line of netbooks ever since he joined Google. He was awarded first additional responsibilities in 2012 when Dave Girouard, the head of Google Apps left to do a startup. Pichai once again proved his leadership quality in 2013 when Andy Rubin stepped down as the longtime leader of Android.

Meanwhile, Pichai was widely recognized outside of Google. One of the major competitors of Google -- micro-blogging site Twitter tried to recruit Pichai several for a key product role. The Chennai boy's name was also considered while the search for a new CEO of Microsoft was on. Before joining Google, Pichai had worked at Applied Materials and also at McKinsey & Co.

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