Google Board Member and Genetech Chairman Arthur D. Levinson has just announced his resignation from Google’s Board of Directors. The announcement comes in the heels of earlier announcement made by Eric Schmidt who filed his resignation from being one of the Board Members of Apple. In case, you’re not aware Mr. Levinson also sits on the Apple Board.
Although there was no reason mentioned in Mr. Levinson’s resignation, we can’t help but wonder whether this has something to do with the ongoing dispute between Apple and Google. This issue is currently being investigated by the FTC.
Mr. Levinson’s resignation comes right after Schmidt said that Levinson should stay on the Google Board despite the current investigation being conducted by the FTC. Schmidt believes that the conflict of interest thrown at Levinson for sitting in both Apple and Google’s Boards will pass through the FTC.
Again, in case you are not aware Google with many services is now considered as one of Apple’s competitors. Hence serving in both Boards will definitely be a conflict of interest.
But it seems that Levinson ignored Schmidt’s remark and pushed through with his resignation from the Google Board. With Levinson’s departure from Google, the ties that may have binded Google and Apple has been finally severed.
In a press release issued this morning, Schmidt has this to say about Levinson’s resignation from the Google Board:
“Art has been a key part of Google’s success these past five years, offering unvarnished advice and vital counsel on every big issue and opportunity Google has faced,” Schmidt said. “Though he leaves as a member of our Board, Art will always have a special place at Google.”
While for his part, Levinson’s parting words for Google:
“Working with Eric, Larry, Sergey and the whole Google team has been a remarkable experience for me. I greatly admire what they’ve built and have no doubt that Google has a terrific future.”
