That mixed remit, rare for a commercial leader at Google, made Brittin a frequent punching bag for a powerful, often unpopular Silicon Valley titan. “Google’s success in Europe was not predestined,” said DJ Collins, a former Google vice-president, who is now co-founder of the health-tech startup Early. In Spain, a law requiring Google to pay for news content drove the company to pull Google News in 2014. After nearly two decades at Google, Brittin certainly doesn’t need the BBC role for financial comfort. In one political grilling, in 2016, he testified before UK lawmakers over accusations that Google paid too little in taxes.

Source: The Edge Markets March 24, 2026 06:59 UTC