Patrick Pichette: Former Google CFO and Senior VP

Patrick Pichette, a former senior executive at Google, has proposed a $500,000 tax on graduates who leave Canada, aiming to address the country’s ongoing brain drain crisis.

Pichette, who served as the senior vice president and chief financial officer (CFO) of Google from 2008 until 2015, is advocating for this financial measure to discourage high-skilled talent from migrating to other countries, particularly the United States.

Professional Background and Experience

Pichette’s career spans over three decades of experience in finance and operations across the technology and telecommunications sectors. He is most recognized for his tenure at Google, where he oversaw the company’s financial strategy during a period of rapid expansion into hardware, cloud computing, and mobile services.

During his time at Google, he also took on responsibilities for BizOps and human resources in April 2011, taking over those roles from Shona Brown and Laszlo Bock, respectively. His tenure at Google concluded in 2015, though he remained as an advisor.

Before joining Google, Pichette held several high-level positions at Bell Canada. He served as the CFO from 2003 to 2004 and as the president of operations from 2004 to 2008. His earlier professional experience includes roles as an associate at McKinsey & Company in Toronto and a stint as the CFO of Call-Net Enterprises.

Post-Google Career and Current Roles

Following his departure from Google, Pichette transitioned into venture capital and corporate governance. In 2017, he joined the board of directors for Twitter, Inc., eventually ascending to the role of chairman in 2020.

In 2022, Pichette co-led the negotiations for the $44 billion acquisition of Twitter by Elon Musk.

Since 2018, he has been a partner at Inovia Capital. In this capacity, he invests in technology startups with a specific focus on enterprise software and artificial intelligence, utilizing his experience in scaling global operations.

Pichette has also contributed to public policy and corporate leadership in Canada, serving on the board of directors for Bombardier Inc. And helping the government in Ottawa update its AI strategy alongside other tech leaders.

Education and Early Life

Born in 1962 and raised in Montreal, Quebec, Pichette’s academic background includes a Bachelor of Business Administration from Université du Québec à Montréal, completed in 1987.

He furthered his education at the University of Oxford’s Pembroke College, where he received a Rhodes Scholarship and earned a Master of Arts degree in philosophy, politics, and economics.

• BBA, Université du Québec à Montréal (1987)
• MA, University of Oxford (Rhodes Scholar)
• Former SVP and CFO of Google (2008-2015)
• Former Chairman of Twitter, Inc.
• Partner at Inovia Capital (2018-Present)