Google parent company, Alphabet, has announced the appointment of Anat Ashkenazi as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Ashkenazi, 51, will assume her new role on July 31, 2024, according to a US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing. This significant transition marks a new chapter for both Ashkenazi and Alphabet, as she steps into a pivotal leadership position within one of the world’s most influential technology companies.
Ashkenazi brings over two decades of extensive experience from her previous role as Executive Vice President and CFO of Eli Lilly and Company, a US-based pharmaceutical firm where she has worked for more than 23 years. Since joining Eli Lilly in 2001, she has held various strategic and operational roles, contributing significantly to the company’s growth and success. Ashkenazi will be based in the Bay Area, reporting directly to Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet.
Sundar Pichai highlighted the transformative potential of the AI era, emphasizing that Ashkenazi’s strategic focus and financial expertise will be crucial as Alphabet continues to innovate and expand. “The AI era is giving us an incredible opportunity to innovate at scale across our core products and to create entirely new products and experiences for our users and customers. I look forward to working with Anat as we invest responsibly to support our next wave of growth,” said Pichai.
Ashkenazi’s appointment follows the tenure of Ruth Porat, who has been Alphabet’s CFO since 2015 and also served as the company’s Chief Investment Officer since September of last year. Porat, 66, has been a significant figure in Alphabet’s financial strategy and growth during her time with the company. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai praised Ashkenazi’s strong track record of driving long-term investment to fuel innovation and growth.
Reflecting on Google’s evolution over the past 25 years, Ashkenazi acknowledged the company’s profound impact on billions of people and millions of businesses worldwide. “Google’s growth and evolution over the last 25 years has been an incredible story, helping billions of people and millions of businesses around the world,” Ashkenazi remarked.