Google's chief finance officer quits to go backpacking

Google's chief finance officer Patrick Pichette has quit his job to go backpacking. In a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission yesterday, Google said Pichette, who is 52, had told the company he will retire. "The effective date of his retirement has not yet been determined," it said. "Patrick indicated that he …

[Mark 85]

Reminds me of the old joke....

As long as he doesn't skydive and backpack at the same time, all will be well.

"Oh... time to set up camp". Opens pack, chute falls out.

"I wonder who has my backpack"... <loud scream from high up>

Ok.. seriously.. will he actually retire and stay retired or get bored and find some other position?

[142]

Re: Reminds me of the old joke....

These silicon valley retirees often end up using their skills to mentor startups and support open-source projects part time.

[Dan Paul]

A Google Retirement Plan

Given the way Googles stock has performed, he likely looked at his assets and figured why the hell should he put up with any more BS in a full time job. I can't blame him, If I would have had that kind of portfolio at 52, I'd be running out the door.

[Tom 13]

Re: A Google Retirement Plan

Sod the "at 52" part. If I had that kind of portfolio I'd retire at 32 and do whatever the hell I wanted to.

[Conrad Richardshon]

Backpack...

...bet its full of his Golden Goodbye $$$$$

[Anonymous Coward]

Just as the EU seems ready to to start getting serious

Just as the EU seems ready to to start getting serious about Globocorp taxdodging,

the CFO at one of the leaders in the practice decides to leave the industry, permanently.

Purely coincidence, obviously.

And anyway, the tax dodging wasn't his idea, a big boy told them to do it and then ran away.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Double_Irish_arrangement etc

[Pen-y-gors]

Glasshole?

I would think being forced to wear a pair of turquoise Google Glasses would actually be grounds for a constructive dismissal case.

[Anonymous Coward]

Re: Glasshole?

He's not the guy in the picture.

[Benjol]

If he's got the money I imagine he has, I suspect he ought to hit the road with a backpack and some bodyguards...

[Champ]

Glum

I'm 52.

I'm not retiring this year, or any year soon...

[DugEBug]

Re: Glum

@Champ - My situation is similar - no retirement in sight. As an employee, I'm limited to backpacking 2-weeks/year. Retiring while I can still carry a backpack for long distances would be sweet. So many mountains, and so little time.

[fishman]

Re: Glum

"Retiring while I can still carry a backpack for long distances would be sweet. So many mountains, and so little time."

I saw too many people who retired due to health reasons, and then died shortly after. Or died while still working. So I retired at 58.

[Aristotles slow and dimwitted horse]

If they are looking for a safe pair of financial hands...

Perhaps they should ask Andrew Fastow. I've heard he's available...