Google Loses CIO To EMI Group

Google did not immediately name a successor for Merrill.

Last month, Google lost Sheryl Sandberg, vice president for global sales and operations, to become COO at Facebook.

As president of digital business at EMI Music, Merrill will be responsible for all of the company's digital strategy, innovation, business development, supply chain and global technology activities.

"He has been a key member of the management team at Google which has created more value than any other consumer internet company by focusing relentlessly on tools that enable consumers to do things more effectively," said Guy Hands, CEO of Terra Firma and chairman of EMI Group, in a statement.

Merrill joined Google in 2003 and led multiple strategic efforts including its IPO and the 2006 launch of Google Checkout, according to EMI. He joins EMI on April 28.

In 2007, he helped turnaround Google's radio advertising business and most recently he was asked by Google CEO Eric Schmidt to drive Google's business development in the Middle East and sub-Saharan Africa.

Google's shares were trading at $472.05 Wednesday afternoon, up $6.34 or 1.4 percent per share. According to The New York Times, Google dismissed concerns that it was threatened by an employee exodus.

"We have a deep bench and work hard to grow leaders within the company," Google said in a statement to the newspaper. "We are attracting immensely talented people around the world, every day."