Google's Australian YouTube chief Kate Vale and Google Wave co-founder Lars Rasmussen are both leaving the company.
Vale was the first employee Google hired in Australia and for six years
headed up sales operations in Australia and New Zealand.
She was
appointed head of YouTube in Australia and New Zealand in March 2009. A replacement has not yet been finalised.
Google said in a statement: "Kate Vale has decided to take on new
challenges and a new career direction outside of Google - we wish her
all the best, and thank her for her enormous contribution in building
Google Australia."
Rasmussen played a leading role in the development of Google Maps and Google Wave. He is joining Facebook's US office.
The moves come after the recent departure of Google Australia and New Zealand managing director Karim Temsamani in August, who has taken up a new role with the search giant overseas. A replacement for Temsamani has not yet been announced.
A Google spokesperson said there is a leadership group in charge of the company in Australia in the absence of Temasamani and Vale.
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