Patrick Pichette

Patrick Pichette is a prominent Canadian business executive and venture capitalist, best known for his role as the former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Google and as a board member of Twitter. He joined Twitter's board in December 2017 and served as its independent board chair from June 2020 until October 2022, when Elon Musk acquired the company and dissolved the board.

Early Life and Education

Born in 1962 in Montreal, Quebec, Pichette earned his Bachelor of Business Administration from Université du Québec à Montréal in 1987 and later received a Rhodes Scholarship to study at Pembroke College, University of Oxford, where he obtained a Master of Arts degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.14

Career Highlights

• Google: Pichette served as Google's CFO from 2008 to 2015. During his tenure, he played a crucial role in the company's expansion beyond search into various sectors, including cloud computing and hardware.124
• Venture Capital: After leaving Google, he became a partner at Inovia Capital, a venture capital firm based in Montreal. There, he focuses on investing in technology companies.234
• Twitter: As a board member and later chair at Twitter, Pichette was involved during significant transitions for the company, including its acquisition by Musk. He emphasized simplicity in Twitter's operations and governance.24

Personal Life

Pichette is known for his preference for a low-profile lifestyle. He enjoys outdoor activities and is involved in various philanthropic efforts, including conservation projects in Canada and healthcare initiatives in Ethiopia. He lives in London with his wife Tamar and their three children.24

Overall, Patrick Pichette's extensive experience in finance and technology has positioned him as a key figure in shaping the strategies of major tech companies like Google and Twitter.