Google SA still headless

Google established a country office in South Africa in mid-2007, appointing ex-Novell SA head Stafford Masie as the first Google SA country manager.  The decision from Google to enter the South African market was welcomed by the local online industry, but the honeymoon period did not last long as Google SA was later dogged by allegations of anti-competitive behaviour and failing to serve the needs of South Africans.

Masie resigned from Google in the beginning of March, citing family and personal reasons.   At the time Google said in a statement that they were looking for a replacement for Masie, and that “Google and our South African team remain highly committed to our local users, customers and partners.”

Previous information suggested that the company was still busy with the interviewing process at the end of April – when Masie officially left the company – but according to Google it has not yet appointed a new country manager.  The company only said that they will be sure to update the media ‘as soon as they have news to share’. 

In the interim Google South Africa has changed its public relations representatives in the country.  Its previous PR company Emerging Media has been replaced with the Johannesburg based Dlamini Weil.

Many people expected Masie to quickly announce another venture, but the ex-Google SA country manager said in his blog that he is “doing a great deal but nothing to announce on the professional side of things.”

Google SA country manager discussion