Google Israel CEO Barak Regev on Tech Industry Shifts and the Wiz Acquisition
Google Israel CEO Barak Regev discusses industry shifts, the record $32 billion Wiz acquisition, and local talent in a recent interview.
Barak Regev, 54, has been serving as the CEO of Google Israel for 9 years, following a 16-year tenure at the company. In an interview with Yedioth Ahronoth's Mamon supplement, he reflects on his journey to the role and the shifts within the tech industry. According to Regev, Israeli talent continues to be "amazing, brilliant, and highly sought-after," yet this is accompanied by ongoing challenges regarding instability and the leakage of skilled workforce out of Israel.
The Nimbus Protest Incident
One of the most memorable incidents occurred at a Calcalist conference in New York two years prior to the interview. While Regev was speaking on stage, a Google employee named Eddie Hatfield interrupted him in protest against Project Nimbus. Regev recalls that the employee claimed he refused to build technology that promotes genocide and apartheid. Security guards subdued the protester within minutes, and he was fired just days later.
Despite such protests, Regev emphasizes that Google Israel has continued to expand. The company acquired Wiz for $32 billion in what was marked as the largest acquisition in its history, and in 2024 announced a planned relocation to a new headquarters in the ToHa2 tower. Regev notes that this is a project anchoring Google's presence in Israel for at least the next decade, alongside significant investments in the semiconductor chip sector.
From Citrus Groves to Tech Leadership
Regev's path into the business world began at a young age. As a teenager, he helped his brother run a business selling oranges directly from the orchard. The enterprise eventually grew to distributing three tons of citrus fruit a week and employed fellow high school students. Following five years of service in ЦАХАЛ, he moved to Los Angeles, where he completed two degrees within five years. He subsequently held a series of roles at Google, including managing and scaling Google Cloud business operations across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
"I wasn't involved in the acquisition, but as CEO of Google Israel, I understood where it was heading. We were all bursting with pride. How could you not be thrilled that Google's largest-ever purchase is that of an Israeli company?"
Advice for Young Professionals
When asked what advice he has for young professionals wishing to join Google, Regev notes that the company also recruits individuals without a university degree. He advises juniors to start working during their studies in student positions.
"Sometimes you have to start from the bottom to reach the top," he says.
