Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki Passes Away at 56

Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube and one of the early pioneers at Google, has passed away at the age of 56 after battling non-small cell lung cancer for two years, her husband announced. Dennis Troper, Wojcicki’s husband of 26 years and father to their five children, shared the news of her death on Facebook, expressing profound sadness and describing her as not only his life partner and best friend but also a brilliant mind and loving mother.

Wojcicki was a significant figure in Silicon Valley, noted for her role in Google’s development from its inception. Google’s founders started the company in her garage in California, and she became its 16th employee. Her career at Google spanned nearly 25 years.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai paid tribute to her on X, highlighting her crucial influence on Google’s history and her impact on those who worked with her. He praised her as an incredible leader and friend.

Wojcicki led YouTube for nine years, stepping down last year to focus more on her family, health, and personal interests. During her tenure, she managed the platform through a critical era of growth and challenges, including the rise of social media and increasing issues related to the spread of misinformation and harmful content.

In her 2023 announcement about stepping down, Wojcicki reflected on her time at YouTube as exhilarating and meaningful, emphasizing her pride in the platform’s achievements under her leadership.