Debbie Weinstein is stepping into one of the most powerful jobs in European technology–President of Google across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, leading the tech giant’s 29,000 employees across the region.
Weinstein will focus on AI-powered growth for users, businesses and governments alike, as part of Google’s global strategic investment into all things AI. Today, Google boldly estimates the EU economy could be boosted by as much as €1.2-1.4 trillion by Generative AI in the next ten years, according to research conducted by Implement Consulting Group.
In a statement shared by Google, Weinstein emphasised the enormous growth opportunity for AI. “I’m excited to be stepping into this role at a pivotal time, in a company where I’ve spent the last ten years and leading a region where I’ve spent much of my life.”
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Google’s parent company Alphabet’s ranking on the 2024 Fortune Global 500.
US-born Weinstein spent the past ten years at Google in the UK, previously as Vice President and Managing Director for Google in the UK and Ireland and Vice President of Global Advertiser Solutions. She replaces Matt Brittin, who announced his departure earlier this year, after a decade leading Google across EMEA.
Like many of her peers at Google, Weinstein is bullish about the potential for AI. In a predictions piece published by LinkedIn, she shared that “2025 will be the tipping point where technology companies like ours, the UK’s business leaders, and the country’s policymakers take action and seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity”. Europe is an important region for AI at Google, with Google DeepMind founded in and led from London, which recently pioneered breakthroughs like the Nobel Prize-winning AlphaFold.
Prior to joining Google, Weinstein worked in sales, marketing, strategy and business development at media companies including Viacom, MTV Networks, and Bolt.com. She is also a former entrepreneur, founding a children’s food company, Swingset Kitchens; and began her career as an investment banker in mergers and acquisitions at Goldman Sachs. She has an MBA from Harvard Business School and a BA from Brown University.
