Susan Wojcicki, former YouTube CEO, dies at 56
Susan Wojcicki participated in the Cannes Lions Festival in Cannes, France, in 2018.
Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki, a tech pioneer and one of Google’s earliest employees, has passed away at the age of 56 after a two-year battle with lung cancer, according to her husband.
“With profound sadness, I share the news of Susan Wojcicki's passing. My beloved wife of 26 years and mother to our five children left us today after two years of living with non-small cell lung cancer,” Dennis Troper wrote in a Facebook post.
Troper described Wojcicki as “not just my best friend and life partner, but also a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a cherished friend to many.”
“Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable. While we are heartbroken, we are also grateful for the time we had with her,” Troper added. “Please keep our family in your thoughts as we navigate this difficult time.”
Wojcicki, one of the most prominent women in Silicon Valley, had been deeply involved with Google since its earliest days, when its two founders worked out of her garage in California. She later became Google’s 16th employee and dedicated nearly 25 years to the company.
Google CEO Sundar Pichai expressed his condolences in a post on X early Saturday, stating that Wojcicki was “core” to Google’s history.
“She was an incredible person, leader, and friend who had a tremendous impact on the world. I’m one of countless Googlers who is better for having known her. We will miss her dearly,” Pichai wrote on X.
Wojcicki served as YouTube’s CEO for nine years before announcing her decision to “step back” from the role in a blog post last year, citing a desire to focus on her family, health, and personal projects she was passionate about, CNN previously reported.
During her tenure, she guided YouTube through a crucial period as the web shifted towards social media, while also facing growing scrutiny over the platform's role in spreading misinformation, hate speech, and other harmful content.
“I’m so proud of everything we’ve achieved,” Wojcicki wrote in her 2023 announcement. “It’s been exhilarating, meaningful, and all-consuming.”
This story is still unfolding and will be updated as more information becomes available.
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