Levinson leaves Google board

Stephen Withers
Tuesday, 13 October 2009 05:29

IT People - People

Arthur Levinson has resigned from Google's board of directors. Although no reason was given in the company's announcement, it seems likely that a purported conflict of interest may be the cause.

Arthur Levinson has resigned from Google's board of directors after a five and a half year tenure.

Levinson is chairman of biotechnology company Genentech, and a member of Apple's board of directors, and it is the latter association that is likely to be the reason for his departure from Google.

Questions have been raised about the extent to which Apple and Google have become competitors, notably over the companies' mobile phone platforms, iPhone and Android.

In May, Google CEO Eric Schmidt expressed his intention to remain on the Apple board despite a competition enquiry by the IS Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

But in August, he resigned from Apple's board. At the time, Apple CEO Steve Jobs said "as Google enters more of Apple’s core businesses, with Android and now Chrome OS, Eric's effectiveness as an Apple Board member will be significantly diminished, since he will have to recuse himself from even larger portions of our meetings due to potential conflicts of interest."

The FTC subsequently issued a statement approving of the decision.

Commenting on Levinson's resignation from the Google board, Schmidt said  "Art has been a key part of Google's success these past five years, offering unvarnished advice and vital counsel on every big issue and opportunity Google has faced."

"Though he leaves as a member of our Board, Art will always have a special place at Google," he added.

And Levinson observed that "Working with Eric, Larry, Sergey and the whole Google team has been a remarkable experience for me. I greatly admire what they've built and have no doubt that Google has a terrific future."

The growing competitive tension between Apple and Google is thought to be at least a partial explanation for Apple not admitting the Google Voice iPhone application to the App Store.