As regulators ramp up their antitrust scrutiny of Google, the tech giant’s global policy team is still adapting to a sweeping reorganization instituted by its new public policy chief, Karan Bhatia, a former longtime General Electric executive. Some key roles remain unfilled, most notably the top U.S. lobbyist job, which has been vacant since November. Google also has yet to announce who will lead policy for the company at YouTube and for the European region.
The leadership gaps could put the company at a disadvantage as the Department of Justice reportedly examines whether Google businesses violated antitrust law. While the agency’s review of Google is thought to be in its early stages, it comes after months of pressure from consumers, tech industry competitors and some Democratic and Republican lawmakers who say the company has grown too powerful.