Google’s cloud boss eyeing ‘major acquisition’ to get ahead

When Diane Greene first joined Google in late 2015, her first task was to assemble the company’s disparate and often-wayward cloud projects and whip them into a real business.

Sales, marketing and engineering divisions did not work together well when pitching companies on Google’s internet-based computing power, storage and services. And some cloud offerings lacked proper credentials to sell to regulated sectors like the government and health care, a handicap in tackling rivals.

Now, the software veteran and chief executive of Google Cloud said she has done all that, declaring in an interview that there are no longer any “blocks” to selling to corporations and other large organisations. She is prepared to make a big purchase to catch market leaders Amazon Web Services and Microsoft – if the deal fits.

“We’re constantly on the lookout for a major acquisition,” Greene said on Friday. “But, you know, it’s hard to find one that makes sense.”

Google can afford to acquire many companies, “but, I don’t want to do something unless it’s in line with our strategy”, she said. “Also, if you’re pretty sure you make it successful and it’s reasonably priced.”