Sundar Pichai takes over as Google Android chief

Google has named Sundar Pichai in charge of its popular Android software for smartphones and tablet computers.

Sundar Pichai would be the first person to head the Android division other than Andy Rubin who began working on the software at a startup that Google bought in 2005.

Sundar Pichai oversees Google's Chrome Web browser and operating system.

In a blog post, Google CEO Larry Page said Rubin will continue working at the company in an undisclosed role.

Google Inc began distributing Android for free to mobile device makers in 2008. The software is now the most popular mobile operating system.

Sunder Pichai is an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur. He holds an M.S. from Stanford University and then completed his MBA from Wharton School.

Pichai joins the growing ranks of Indian-origin executives who hold senior leadership positions at Google -Nikesh Arora, senior vice president and chief business officer; Vic Gundotra, senior vice president, engineering, and Amit Singhal, senior vice president and Google fellow.

(With Agency Inputs)