Google Aussie MD spot up for grabs as Leeder leaves for France

Google Australia managing director Nick Leeder will be leaving his current post to head up the company’s operations in France.

He was tapped by a colleague in Google France for the new job, and will be moving there in April. This has been confirmed by a Google spokesperson, who also told ZDNet that the company will be looking for his replacement internally and externally.

Leeder had previously studied in France, earning a Masters in Business Administration from French business school INSEAD.

"My time with Google Australia and New Zealand has been one of the highlights of my career," he said in a statement. "The team here is doing tremendous things to help local partners, advertisers, and users.

"It's been an honour to be part of it. I look forward to watching Google's contribution to Australia and New Zealand grow in the coming years."

Leeder has been Google Australia's managing director since early 2011, taking over from Karim Temsamani, who is now the head of Google in Asia-Pacific.

At the time Leeder was hired, Google said that it wanted a managing director to have a "strong academic record, with a high degree preferred, at least 15 years of combined experience in media, advertising, management, and consulting".

Leeder graduated with a degree in mathematics from the University of Sydney.

He was the deputy CEO for The Australian at News Corporation for just over a year before joining Google. He had also served as Fairfax's chief operating officer between 1998 and 2004.

Those who think they have what it takes to be the new Google Australia managing director can apply for the position on the company's website.