(Reuters) – Alphabet’s new Chief Executive Sundar Pichai on Friday gained the chance to reshape the management of Google’s dad or mum with the exit of Chief Legal Officer David Drummond, whose outsized strategic function was overshadowed by worker issues about his private relationship with a subordinate. FILE PHOTO: Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt (L) and David Drummond, Google’s Senior Vice President of Corporate Development, react earlier than a gathering concerning the “right to be forgotten” in Madrid September 9, 2014. REUTERS/Andrea Comas (SPAIN) Drummond, additionally senior vp of company improvement, had been with Google since its begin in 1998. He included the corporate as outdoors counsel, successful the enterprise of co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin. He later spent practically 18 years as the corporate’s high lawyer and one in all its few black executives. Scrutiny centered on Drummond because the board final 12 months investigated the corporate’s dealing with of sexual misconduct complaints all through its workforce, and he turned a lightning rod for criticism about what some staff seen as tolerance for poor conduct. Pichai now has his first huge likelihood to make his mark on Alphabet management since Page and Brin left him day-to-day reins of the corporate final month. Drummond’s final day is Jan. 31, and a substitute has not been determined but, Alphabet mentioned. “With Larry and Sergey now leaving their executive roles at Alphabet, the company is entering an exciting new phase, and I believe that it’s also the right time for me to make way for the next generation of leaders,” Drummond mentioned in an e-mail to staff shared by Google. Some staff had questioned Drummond’s function on the firm after the New York Times in 2018 reported on an extramarital affair he had with subordinate, Jennifer Blakely, beginning in 2004. She informed the paper that she was successfully compelled to switch groups to adjust to Google’s office courting coverage. Blakely had a son with Drummond, however in August 2019 she publicly criticized him for not offering assist. Drummond responded in an announcement calling himself “far from perfect.” Blakely didn’t instantly reply to a request for touch upon Friday. Some shareholders have urged Alphabet to make adjustments that had been inside Drummond’s purview, together with larger monetary transparency, greater share buybacks and a administration shakeup. Alphabet shares have risen 6.5% this month as analysts expressed optimism about potential adjustments. In a departure from firm norm, Drummond shouldn’t be receiving an exit pay bundle. In current weeks, Drummond offered greater than $200 million value of his Alphabet shares, leaving him with about $90 million in firm inventory. He stays a defendant, alongside different executives, in a lawsuit shareholders introduced final 12 months accusing Alphabet management of overlaying up sexual harassment scandals inside the firm together with by awarding lavish exit packages to 2 high executives discovered liable for misconduct. “While we are glad to see Mr. Drummond is no longer with Alphabet, we still intend to hold him accountable for fiduciary breaches through our litigation,” mentioned Julie Goldsmith Reiser, lawyer for the lead plaintiffs. The board accomplished an inner investigation final month, however has not publicized findings. The litigation is in mediation, and the board’s findings and ensuing actions could grow to be often called it goes on. Pichai in 2018 mentioned Google made errors in some instances and launched new procedures aimed toward creating fairness and transparency in harassment investigations. “I am fully committed to making progress on an issue that has persisted for far too long in our society… and, yes, here at Google, too,” mentioned Pichai, who on the time was Google CEO and had not but gained the extra title of Alphabet CEO. The #MeToo motion has compelled main shake-ups in administration and harassment coverage throughout company America. Through weblog posts, congressional appearances and media interviews, Drummond’s presence was felt in practically each public battle the corporate fought because it crippled conventional companies in media and telecoms on its technique to on-line dominance. Drummond has described himself as a variety advocate, telling Fortune in 2017 that he “pushed” the corporate to do extra on the problem. He inspired Google to publish knowledge concerning the demographics of its workforce, and in 2014 he marched right into a companywide assembly and spoke alongside colleagues annoyed by police violence towards younger black males. BIGGER ROLE When Google re-organized underneath the Alphabet umbrella in 2015, Page elevated Drummond’s function past managing the corporate’s authorized and regulatory issues to overseeing its funding funds and far-off ventures. Earlier in his tenure, he beat a lawsuit lodged by insurer Geico that might have undermined the corporate’s now-massive search adverts enterprise. He settled with Viacom (VIACA.O) a copyright infringement lawsuit that might have crushed YouTube on its technique to turning into the highest on-line video vacation spot. And he fended off 5 main e book publishers to allow Google to make their copyrighted works searchable on-line. FILE PHOTO: David Drummond, senior vp of Google, attends the eG8 discussion board in Paris May 25, 2011. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes Drummond tussled on behalf of Google with rival Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) for a decade on govt poaching, anticompetitive conduct and patents, with every firm taking its share of licks. As Google’s lead dealmaker, Drummond oversaw billions of {dollars}’ value of acquisitions together with of YouTube, DoubleClick and Motorola. Drummond for a time served as the general public face of robust stands towards governments around the globe. He has usually advocated for freedoms of speech, and in 2010, he known as for commerce sanctions on nations that censor the web, comparable to China and Turkey. Reporting by Paresh Dave in San Francisco; Additional reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru; Editing by Shounak Dasgupta and Cynthia OstermanOur Standards:The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.