By Sherman So at Asia Times Online:
HONG KONG - The sudden resignation of Lee Kai-fu from his position as head of Google China, where he led failing efforts by the world's dominant Internet search engine to catch mainland market leader Baidu, prompted widespread speculation over why he quit and what his new plans might be.
One near constant is that his departure, announced last month, is a major setback for the company. Whatever truth there is in that view, one point missing in the discussion is whether Lee, 47, was really a suitable person to run Google's operation in China today? Or can John Liu, who is assuming most of Lee's business and operational responsibilities, be a better candidate?
United States-based Google formally started its office in China in mid-2005.
HONG KONG - The sudden resignation of Lee Kai-fu from his position as head of Google China, where he led failing efforts by the world's dominant Internet search engine to catch mainland market leader Baidu, prompted widespread speculation over why he quit and what his new plans might be.
One near constant is that his departure, announced last month, is a major setback for the company. Whatever truth there is in that view, one point missing in the discussion is whether Lee, 47, was really a suitable person to run Google's operation in China today? Or can John Liu, who is assuming most of Lee's business and operational responsibilities, be a better candidate?
United States-based Google formally started its office in China in mid-2005.
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