Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Passes Away at 56 After Battle with Cancer
Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube and one of Google’s first employees, passed away on Friday, August 10, at the age of 56. Wojcicki, who led YouTube through a period of significant growth during her nine-year tenure, succumbed to a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer.
Her husband, Dennis Troper, announced her passing in a heartfelt Facebook post on Friday evening. “With profound sadness, I share the news of Susan Wojcicki’s passing. My beloved wife of 26 years and mother to our five children left us today after two years of living with cancer,” Troper wrote. “Susan was not just my best friend and life partner but also a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a dear friend to many. Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable. We are heartbroken but grateful for the time we had with her. Please keep our family in your thoughts as we navigate this difficult time.”
Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, expressed his grief on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Unbelievably saddened by the loss of my dear friend @SusanWojcicki after two years of living with cancer. She is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and it’s hard to imagine the world without her.” He added, “She was an incredible person, leader, and friend who had a tremendous impact on the world, and I’m one of countless Googlers who is better for knowing her. We will miss her dearly. Our thoughts are with her family. RIP Susan.”
Susan Wojcicki’s journey with Google began in 1999 when she became the company’s 16th employee and its first marketing executive. Notably, Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin initially operated the search engine out of Wojcicki’s garage in Menlo Park, California. During her time at Google, Wojcicki played a pivotal role in licensing search technology and led the initial development of Google’s image search.
In February 2014, Wojcicki was appointed CEO of YouTube, underscoring the growing importance of the video platform to Google’s advertising business. She stepped down from her role as CEO in February 2023, but continued to serve as an advisor to the company.
Neal Mohan, who succeeded Wojcicki as YouTube CEO, shared his thoughts on X, reminiscing about their 17-year professional relationship. “I had the good fortune of meeting Susan 17 years ago when she was the architect of the DoubleClick acquisition,” Mohan wrote. “Her legacy lives on in everything she touched at @Google and @YouTube. I am forever grateful for her friendship and guidance. I will miss her tremendously. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones.”
Throughout her career, Susan Wojcicki made significant contributions to Google, overseeing the product management of AdSense, Google Book Search, Google Video, and the syndication of Google’s products. Before joining Google, she held positions at Intel, Bain & Co., and R.B. Webber & Co.
Susan Wojcicki’s legacy as YouTube CEO and her contributions to the tech industry will be remembered for years to come.