The head of Google for Work, Amit Singh, is transferring to lead the operations and business efforts of Google's virtual reality division.
Singh has confirmed the news through his Twitter account.
Thrilled to be joining Google VR team to lead biz and ops. Incredibly proud of @googleforwork and where they are headed
— Amit Singh (@aksingh77) May 13, 2016
A former Oracle executive who joined Google six years ago, Singh was behind the success of several of Google's key business-oriented products, including Android for Work and Chromebooks for Work. Additionally, Singh has positively led efforts to bring in big businesses as paying customers by introducing various Google services like Google Apps and Google Cloud Platform.
Singh has been running the Google Enterprise division since 2010, long before the department changed its name to Google for Work in 2014. However, Singh has been operating in the background since Google put enterprise veteran Diane Greene in charge of running the Google Cloud in November 2015.
Singh is expected to stir positive changes in the business and operations side of Google VR. Google's fledgling VR platform has largely been consumer-focused and it requires an enterprise expert like Singh to re-strategize the division's objectives.
Google has confirmed that it is currently seeking a qualified candidate to replace Singh. In the meantime, Greene will lead the Google for Work department until a replacement is ready. There is no word yet on whether Google will be hiring internally or scouting talents outside the company.
Singh is slated to become the vice president of business and operations for Google's emerging virtual reality team. This team, led by Clay Bavor, includes Google projects such as the Google Cardboard and Jump 360 cameras. The Cardboard project is a low-cost virtual reality viewer that is folded out of a literal piece of cardboard and houses a mobile device to display virtual reality content. Google has indicated that it has shipped over 5 million low-cost Google Cardboard units.
The Jump 360 camera is designed to capture 3D 360-degree films and photos for virtual reality consumption. These films can be displayed on cardboard devices or more robust PC-based units such as the HTC Vive.
Another project of the virtual reality team is Tilt Brush, which is currently available on the HTC Vive and uses the motion controls to allow users to draw 3D paintings and sculptures in virtual reality. Using the HTC Vive's room scale virtual reality capability, Tilt Brush also allows users to walk through and around their creations to view and experience them from every angle.
Google is expected to make a major announcement regarding their Google VR project at the I/O conference on May 18 through May 20 at the Shoreline Amphitheatre in Mountain View.
With Singh's reputation for developing ideas into real businesses, his joining might indicate that Google is ready to launch its Google VR technology and possibly hints at the arrival of a major technology competition to the developing VR industry.
