Google+ creator and social network mastermind Vic Gundotra announced that he is leaving Google after eight years with the company. Gundotra's reasons for leaving, as well as his next position, are unknown as of yet.
Gundotra started Google's social network back in 2011. Although few believed that Google+ would ever become something of note, Gundotra and his team believed strongly that it would take off. Today, Google+ might not be a Facebook killer, or even an equal competitor, but does have a loyal following.
Google+ is frequented by fans of Google, techies, journalists and other self-promoters. Google+ ranks highly in search engine results, so many have taken to it for the sole purpose of getting their name out there on the Internet. As of October 2013, Google+ had 300 million monthly active users and the company still hopes to grow that number.
Gundotra's departure came as a huge surprise and little is known about why the change took place. Although Google executive Larry Page assured users on Google+ that the company still plans to improve the social network, its trajectory will undoubtedly change with Gundotra's departure.
Gundotra announced his intentions to leave Google on the platform he created: Google+. The post reads both mournful and hopeful, reveals little about his reasons for leaving and gives the impression that perhaps he wasn't quite ready to go.
"I have been incredibly fortunate to work with the amazing people of Google. I don't believe there is a more talented and passionate collection of people anywhere else," he wrote. "And I'm overwhelmed when I think about the leadership of Larry Page and what he empowered me to do while at Google."
"I'm also forever in debt to the Google+ team," he continued. "This is a group of people who built social at Google against the skepticism of so many. The growth of active users is staggering, and speaks to the work of this team. But it doesn't tell you what kind of people they are. They are invincible dreamers. I love them. And I will miss them dearly."
At this point, there's no telling what will happen with Google+, but it seems likely that the social network will continue to modernize and offer new functionalities that will make it worth using for years to come.
