Google is merging the team working on the Waze navigation app into the same group overseeing Google Maps, the company has announced. The Wall Street Journal reports that the move is not expected to spell the end of Waze as a separate service, and no layoffs are planned as part of the reorganization. However, Waze CEO Neha Parikh is expected to leave the role after the transition, and the move is expected to reduce overlapping work, the WSJ notes.
Going forward, Waze’s 500 employees are expected to be part of Google’s Geo organization, which oversees Maps in addition to Earth and Street View.
Google acquired Waze almost a decade ago
“Google remains deeply committed to Waze’s unique brand, beloved app, and thriving community of volunteers and users,” said Caroline Bourdeau, Waze’s head of public relations. The edge in a statement. “By including the Waze team in Geo’s portfolio of real-world mapping products, such as Google Maps, Google Earth and Street View, the teams will benefit from further increased technical collaboration.” The WSJ reports that the merger will take effect on Friday, December 9.
But in September Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, said yes work to make the company more productiveand there has been pressure from activist investors reduce costs. Merging overlapping product areas was one of the examples Pichai gave as a way to achieve this, and it is hoped that this restructuring will achieve something similar for Google’s mapping products.
