Susan Wojcicki, Former YouTube CEO, Dies At 56 After Battling Cancer

Susan Wojcicki, the former CEO of YouTube, passed away at the age of 56 after a two-year battle with non-small cell lung cancer. The news of her death was shared by her husband, Dennis Troper, in a Facebook post on August 10.

"It is with profound sadness that I share the news of Susan Wojcicki passing. My beloved wife of 26 years and mother to our five children left us today after 2 years of living with non-small cell lung cancer. Susan was not just my best friend and partner in life, but a brilliant mind, a loving mother, and a dear friend to many. Her impact on our family and the world was immeasurable. We are heartbroken, but grateful for the time we had with her. Please keep our family in your thoughts as we navigate this difficult time," added her husband Dennis Troper in a facebook post.

Wojcicki joined Google in its early days and played a crucial role in the development of the company's direction, including the acquisition of YouTube in 2006. She was the YouTube’s CEO from 2014 until her departure in 2023 and transformed the platform into a global phenomenon.

The tech world has also taken a moment to honor Susan’s memory. Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai expressed his condolences in a post on X, previously known as Twitter. In his post, he wrote, "Unbelievably saddened by the loss of my dear friend @SusanWojcicki after two years of living with cancer. She is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and it’s hard to imagine the world without her. She was an incredible person, leader and friend who had a tremendous impact on the world and I’m one of countless Googlers who is better for knowing her. We will miss her dearly. Our thoughts with her family. RIP Susan."

Woman Behind Google's Rise

In 1998, Susan Wojcicki rented out her parents' garage to Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who used it to launch Google. A year later, that is in 1990, she joined the fledgling company as its 16th employee and first marketing executive.

In 2014, Wojcicki became YouTube's CEO, guiding the platform through nine years. She stepped down in 2023.

Beyond advertising, Wojcicki led the development of consumer products like Google Images and Google Books. She also spearheaded Google Video, a precursor to what would later become one of her most notable achievements - acquiring YouTube.