Nov 2, 2018 - Technology

Google's top Washington lobbyist is leaving role

David McCabe

Susan Molinari speaks at the celebration for leading women in Washington hosted by GOOGLE, ELLE, and The Center for American Progress — Former Republican Congresswoman and Google's Vice President of Public Policy for the Americas Susan Molinari. Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for ELLE

Google's top U.S. public policy official is stepping down from the role, the company confirmed on Friday.

Why it matters: The departure of former Republican Congresswoman Susan Molinari as Google's Vice President of Public Policy for the Americas and head of its D.C. office comes as the company faces unprecedented pressures in Washington. In a new role, she'll advise the company on building external relationships.

Details:

She'll continue to serve in her current role for the rest of the year, and advise the company on external relationships after that.
Earlier this year, the company hired GE executive Karan Bhatia to lead its global policy efforts. Bhatia said in an email to policy employees working on the Americas that Molinari "will focus on the critically important goal of strengthening our relationships with key external constituents" and will report to him.

What they're saying:

Molinari said in a statement that this year has "brought some major changes to my life" including her husband's retirement, the death of her father and her oldest daughter's college graduation.
"I was looking for the right time to step back and step away and now that we have a global policy leader, I am comfortable in making the transition," she said.

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Google's top Washington lobbyist is leaving role

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