Susan Wojcicki, a trailblazing tech executive who significantly influenced the development of Google and YouTube, has died at 56, as confirmed by her husband.
Wojcicki was instrumental in Google’s early growth, having famously rented her Menlo Park garage to founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 1998. This pivotal arrangement led to her joining Google in 1999 as a marketing manager. Over the years, she held various roles, including senior vice president of advertising and commerce, before serving as YouTube’s CEO from 2014 to 2023.
In her role at YouTube, Wojcicki guided the platform through significant expansion and played a crucial part in its acquisition by Google in 2006. She was known for her leadership and advocacy in the tech industry, particularly for women in technology.
Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai expressed deep sorrow at her passing, noting the profound impact Wojcicki had on the company and the global tech community. Former Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg also honored her legacy, recalling Wojcicki’s role as a mentor and guide during her own tech career.
Wojcicki’s husband, Dennis Troper, shared the news of her death on social media, revealing that she had been battling non-small cell lung cancer for two years. He described her as a brilliant mind and loving mother, deeply missed by her family and many friends.
Her passing comes shortly after the loss of their son, Marco Troper, who died earlier this year.
