Google CEO defends cost-cutting measures

DURHAM – As Google continues to hire in the Triangle, the company is making cuts elsewhere. And Google’s employees are getting anxious as was made clear in a virtual company-wide meeting this week.

CNBC reports that Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, spent much of the meeting addressing concerns from its workers about the company’s cost-cutting actions.

In responding to one question from employees that asked why the company was slashing travel budgets and making cuts in other areas even while the company was making and reporting profits and sitting on large cash reserves, CNBC said Pichai delivered a measured response:

“Look, I hope all of you are reading the news, externally. The fact that you know, we are being a bit more responsible through one of the toughest macroeconomic conditions underway in the past decade, I think it’s important that as a company, we pull together to get through moments like this.”

Earlier this month, Pichai said at an event that he aimed to drive the company to become 20% more productive even while slowing hiring and investments, including eliminating nearly half of the projects and possibly some staff affiliated with an internal incubator known as Area 120.