Google (Nsdq: GOOG) CFO George Reyes plans to leave the company, one of the first departures from its top executive ranks. Reyes joined Google before its 2004 IPO and will remain to assist in the search for his replacement, expected to be finished by the end of the year. Reason for his departure is no clear, though WSJ cites one source saying that some top executives since last year had been encouraging Reyes to retire, amid doubts about his performance.
Marketwatch: His successor will inherit a herd of Wall Street analysts chafing at the company’s lack of official guidance and an employee-option pricing plan that will almost surely draw close SEC scrutiny one day. Given the choice of putting out more Google fires—including those of his own making—against enjoying his Google millions (or maybe it’s billions), Reyes’ call is understandable.