Another day, another key Googler departs

October 23, 2007 | Eric Eldon | Comments | |

updated
salman-ullah1.pngSalman Ullah, Google’s VP of corporate development, has left the company to found a venture firm called Copper River Partners, we’ve learned from a source. Ullah’s LinkedIn profile confirms he is an “owner” of the firm.

[Update: While Ullah's LinkedIn profile says Copper River Partners, a commenter says the name is actually Merus Capital -- Om confirms this, and also says Ullah will be joined by Sean Dempsey, also of Google's corporate development group, and Peter Hsing, a general manager of corporate strategy at Microsoft.]

Ullah has been a public face of Google’s acquisition efforts, speaking at conferences as recently as August about what Google looks for in companies it considers for acquisition: “crazy” but good ideas, proven monetization, engineering talent, etc. His position at Google no doubt has given him good insight into which companies he should be putting his new firm’s money into (perhaps even to turn around and help sell them to Google later?)

This is the latest in a string of top Googlers that have been leaving the ‘Plex for the richer pastures of startup life. Already, this month, we’ve reported a long line of others walking out. There’s Kevin Scott, a former engineering manager for search and advertising who left to manage the technical infrastructure at mobile ad company AdMob. There’s former Google Health head Adam Bosworth, who left to work on his own startup, the guys behind FriendFeed (who were the first to flirt with the VC dark side), and more big guns going to Facebook: all-star engineer Benjamin Ling recently joined finance/dealmaking wizard Gideon Yu.

We’ve asked Ullah and Google for confirmation and are waiting for their responses.

Update: Google spokesman Jon Murchinson has just responded, as follows: “Salman has advised us that he will be leaving Google next month to start a venture capital firm. We thank him for his significant contributions over the past three years as head of our corporate development group and we wish him the best.”

Update II: Salman was quite senior. He’d reported to David Drummond, Google’s senior vice president for corporate development and chief legal officer.

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About the Author, Eric Eldon

Eric currently covers digital media technology and business news, especially what's happening on social networks and their platforms. He also writes and edits stories about venture capital, and lots of other stuff, too. He started at VentureBeat in the spring of 2007, half a year or so after Matt Marshall left his reporting job at the San Jose Mercury News to found the site. Eric previously cofounded a startup called Writewith, that was building editorial software for newspapers and other groups of writers. The startup didn't work out, but he learned a lot.

  • I wonder how many upper-tier Googlers will leave to start their own venture capital firm?!!
  • Is Salman self funding? :-)
  • joseph smoseph
    Salman Ullah is actually VP of Corporate Development at Google, not director. And the Firm's name is Merus Capital, not Copper River. Given what the Keyhole (Google Earth), Youtube, Urchin (Analytics) and Doubleclick acquisitions have done or will do for Google, one can argue Google is losing one of its most important assets. Where I can I sign up to be an LP in his firm???
  • Thanks Joseph, we saw multiple references to "Director," and had tried to verify with Google. We've yet to hear back from Google or Salman. Also, the LinkedIn profile says only Copper River. Thanks for the tip on Merus. Lots of references to Merus on Google search. Merus appears to have offices in California. But haven't found a Web site (yet), to confirm whether this is the same firm.
  • I wish I bought it on when it went public
  • Jess
    Does anyone know who is replacing Salman in the role of VP of Corp Dev (or know of any contacts in that group other than Drummond)? Thanks!
  • Rony Ler
    How can I get to Mr. Salman Ullah ?

    Does anyone have his present e-mail address.
  • K
    Matt,

    Venturebeat sucks. Why don't you merge with Tech Crunch if they will have have you, so we readers don't have to wade through shit to get to one good story that you write.