2015年3月11日，据外国媒体报道，谷歌首席财务官（CFO），现年52岁的帕特里克·皮切特已经向谷歌递交了辞呈。他在结婚25年来全身心投入于工作，现在想卸下职务回归家庭，打算陪妻子旅行。皮切特在博客中表示，他离职是希望有更多时间去陪伴家人，尤其是自己的妻子。今年夏季将是他们结婚25周年。他表示：“尽管我并不是在寻求同情，但我希望分享我的思考过程，因为很多人都无法很好地平衡工作和个人生活的关系。”
据悉，帕特里克·皮切特任谷歌CFO职位已经七年，日前他辞职的消息通过谷歌向美国证券交易委员会（SEC）递交的材料中曝光出来。不过还不明确皮切特具体的离职日期。不过谷歌方面表示，皮切特将在谷歌找到新CFO前继续留任于公司。而谷歌预计搜寻新的CFO将需要6个月时间。目前公司尚未确定该辞呈正式生效的时间。谷歌发言人拒绝对皮切特退休的决定置评。
皮切特出生于加拿大，现年52岁，皮切特于2008年中期加盟谷歌，此前曾在加拿大Bell公司和麦肯锡公司任职。他持有魁北克大学蒙特利尔分校和牛津大学的学位。皮切特在社交网站Google+上发布的文章和谷歌内部备忘录表示，他希望能用更多的时间陪伴家人。他表示为工作付出了很多，并不是要寻求支持，只是希望分享思想过程，因为很多人都努力在工作与个人生活之间寻找平衡点。“无论如何，在谷歌工作是一种荣幸，我与最优秀的人们共事，并且知道自己离开谷歌时会有优秀的人才接手。在这里，我交到了很多朋友。感谢你们的友谊。我会永远感谢你们给我的信任、温暖、支持，以及在顺境和逆境下带来的欢笑。”
据了解，皮切特在2008年金融危机时加盟谷歌，接替退休的乔治·雷耶斯（George Reyes）担任公司高级副总裁和首席财务官，当时全球陷入经济危机之时，谷歌的业务也出现明显的放缓迹象，人们普遍认为，谷歌是到控制成本的时候了。当时有着“互联网女皇”美誉的摩根士丹利分析师玛丽·米克尔称，谷歌选择皮切特这一举动是“在正确的时间选择了正确的人”。
目前谷歌尚未确定皮切特具体的离职日期，皮切特将在谷歌找到新CFO前继续留任于公司。而谷歌预计，搜寻新的CFO将需要6个月时间。
以下是Google CFO 的辞职信全文：
After nearly 7years as CFO,I will be retiring from Google to spend more time with my family.Yeah,I know you've heard that line before.We give a lot to our jobs.I certainly did.And while I am not looking for sympathy,I want to share my thought process because so many people struggle to strike the right balance between work and personal life.
This story starts last fall.A very early morning last September,after a whole night of climbing,looking at the sunrise on top of Africa -Mt Kilimanjaro.Tamar (my wife)and I were not only enjoying the summit,but on such a clear day,we could see in the distance,the vast plain of the Serengeti at our feet,and with it the calling of all the potential adventures Africa has to offer.(see exhibit #1-Tamar and I on Kili).
And Tamar out of the blue said "Hey,why don't we just keep on going".Let's explore Africa,and then turn east to make our way to India,it's just next door,and we're here already.Then,we keep going;the Himalayas,Everest,go to Bali,the Great Barrier Reef...Antarctica,let's go see Antarctica!?"Little did she know,she was tempting fate.
I remember telling Tamar a typical prudent CFO type response-I would love to keep going,but we have to go back.It's not time yet,There is still so much to do at Google,with my career,so many people counting on me/us -Boards,Non Profits,etc
But then she asked the killer question:So when is it going to be time?Our time?My time?The questions just hung there in the cold morning African air.
A few weeks later,I was happy back at work,but could not shake away THE question:When is it time for us to just keep going?And so began a reflection on my/our life.Through numerous hours of cycling last fall (my introvert happy place)I concluded on a few simple and self-evident truths:
First,The kids are gone.Two are in college,one graduated and in a start-up in Africa.Beautiful young adults we are very proud of.Tamar honestly deserves most of the credit here.She has done a marvelous job.Simply marvelous.But the reality is that for Tamar and I,there will be no more Cheerios encrusted minivan,night watch because of ear infections,ice hockey rinks at 6:00am.Nobody is waiting for us/needing us.
Second,I am completing this summer 25-30years of nearly non-stop work (depending on how you wish to cut the data).And being member of FWIO,the noble Fraternity of Worldwide Insecure Over-achievers,it has been a whirlwind of truly amazing experiences.But as I count it now,it has also been a frenetic pace for about 1500weeks now.Always on -even when I was not supposed to be.Especially when I was not supposed to be.And am guilty as charged -I love my job (still do),my colleagues,my friends,the opportunities to lead and change the world.
Third,this summer,Tamar and I will be celebrating our 25th anniversary.When our kids are asked by their friends about the success of the longevity of our marriage,they simply joke that Tamar and I have spent so little time together that "it's really too early to tell"if our marriage will in fact succeed.
If they could only know how many great memories we already have together.How many will you say?How long do you have?But one thing is for sure,I want more.And she deserves more.Lots more.
Allow me to spare you the rest of the truths.But the short answer is simply that I could not find a good argument to tell Tamar we should wait any longer for us to grab our backpacks and hit the road -celebrate our last 25years together by turning the page and enjoy a perfectly fine mid life crisis full of bliss and beauty,and leave the door open to serendipity for our next leadership opportunities,once our long list of travels and adventures is exhausted.
Working at Google is a privilege,nothing less.I have worked with the best of the best,and know that I am leaving Google in great hands.I have made so many friends at Google it's not funny.Larry,Sergey,Eric,thank you for friendship.I am forever grateful for letting me be me,for your trust,your warmth,your support,and for so much laughter through good and not so good times.
To be clear,I am still here.I wish to transition over the coming months but only after we have found a new Googley CFO and help him/her through an orderly transition,which will take some time.
In the end,life is wonderful,but nonetheless a series of trade offs,especially betweenbusiness/professional endeavours and family/community.And thankfully,I feel I’m at a point in my life where I no longer have to have to make such tough choices anymore.And for that I am truly grateful.Carpe Diem.
Patrick
