Google Hires 5 Key Execs From AWS, Microsoft: Here’s Who

Google has recently hired five former presidents, vice presidents and general managers from rivals Microsoft and Amazon Web Services as Google Cloud looks to win more cloud market share.

From Microsoft’s former corporate vice president of global sales and strategic partnerships to AWS’ former general manager of machine learning—Google has recently nabbed several big-time executives with the goal of elevating the company’s cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) positions.

Google, Microsoft and AWS are the world’s three top cloud computing companies. Combined, these three technology giants won approximately 65 percent share of the $63 billion global cloud services market in the first quarter of 2023. The companies also compete heavily across the IT spectrum, including software, channel partner mindshare and in the red-hot generative AI market.

[Related: Amazon’s AWS Q2 Earnings Preview: Cloud Sales, Profit And AI]

Google Cloud’s Record $8 Billion Quarter

Before jumping into those recent hires, it’s key to note Google Cloud reported a successful second quarter 2023 financial earnings last week.

The Mountain View, Calif.-based cloud company generated a record $8.03 billion in revenue during Q2 2023, representing a sales increase of 28 percent year over year. Google Cloud generated an operating income of $395 million compared to an operating loss of $590 million in Q2 2022. This means Google Cloud improved its operating income by nearly $1 billion year over year.

Microsoft reports Azure and other cloud services sales figures inside its Intelligent Cloud business group, without providing specific cloud revenue data. Microsoft’s Intelligent Cloud business generated total sales of $24 billion during the quarter, representing an increase of 15 percent year over year. Amazon is set to report its AWS Q2 2023 financial earnings results on Aug. 3.

Here are the five biggest executive hires from Google over the past several months.