Google Israel CEO Reflects on Major Acquisition and Company Growth

Barak Regev, the 54-year-old CEO of Google Israel, has led the company for nine years and spent 16 years with Google overall. In an interview with "Yedioth Ahronoth's" finance supplement, Regev discussed his career path and the evolving tech industry. He praised Israeli talent as "amazing, brilliant, and sought-after" but noted challenges with instability and talent migration from Israel. Regev recalled an incident at a Calcalist economic conference in New York where a Google employee disrupted his speech, protesting the "Nimbus" project and accusing it of enabling genocide and apartheid. Security removed the employee, who was subsequently fired. Despite such protests, Regev stated that Google Israel has continued to expand, highlighted by its $32 billion acquisition of Wiz, the largest in Google's history. Additionally, Google announced plans in 2024 to move to a new headquarters in the ToHa2 tower, a project Regev believes solidifies Google's presence in Israel for at least the next decade, alongside significant investments in the chip sector.

Regev's business journey began early, assisting his brother with a direct-from-the-orchard orange sales business that grew to distribute three tons of citrus weekly and employed students. After five years in the IDF, he pursued higher education in Los Angeles, earning two degrees in five years. He held various roles at Google, including managing and growing Google Cloud business across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The Wiz acquisition filled Regev with Israeli pride, stating, "We were all bursting with happiness. How could you not be excited that Google's biggest acquisition ever was of an Israeli company?" For aspiring Google employees, Regev advises that the company hires individuals without degrees and recommends students start with part-time jobs during their studies, adding, "Sometimes you have to start at the bottom to get to the top."