Former Google.org chief joining new Skoll venture



WASHINGTON - Larry Brilliant, the founding executive director of Google.org, the philanthropic arm of the Internet search giant, is leaving the company to head a venture backed by the Skoll Foundation.
Brilliant, 64, who stepped down as head of Google.org in February and was named Google's "Chief Philanthropic Evangelist," announced his departure in a post on the Google.org blog late Tuesday.
"It's with a grateful heart that I leave full-time work with Google to begin a new chapter in my life," he said.



Brilliant, a leading epidemiologist who played a key role in the World Health Organization's efforts to eradicate smallpox from Asia, said he was leaving Google to become president of the Skoll Urgent Threats Fund.
The fund is an initiative of the Skoll Foundation founded 10 years ago by billionaire Jeff Skoll.
Skoll is the founding president of online auction giant eBay and the chairman of Participant Media, producer of such films as "An Inconvenient Truth," a movie about climate change featuring former vice president Al Gore.
In a statement, the Skoll Foundation said the Urgent Threats Fund would support "innovative high-impact initiatives to combat climate change, water scarcity, pandemics, nuclear proliferation and Middle East conflict."
The fund would have an initial budget of 100 million dollars "with additional funds available over time," it said.
Brilliant said he would leave Google on May 5 but would continue to serve as an adviser to Google.org.
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Thursday, April 16th 2009
AFP
           


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