Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki has passed away at the age of 56 after a two-year battle with cancer. 

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, expressed his profound sadness on X, stating, “Unbelievably saddened by the loss of my dear friend @SusanWojcicki after two years of living with cancer. She is as core to the history of Google as anyone, and it’s hard to imagine the world without her.”

Pichai praised Wojcicki as “an incredible person, leader, and friend” who had a significant impact on the world and noted that many at Google are “better for knowing her.” He extended his thoughts to her family, adding, “We will miss her dearly. RIP Susan.”

Wojcicki stepped down as YouTube CEO in February 2023 after nine years leading the platform. 

Neal Mohan, who succeeded Wojcicki as CEO of YouTube, also paid tribute, writing, “Today we @youtube lost a teammate, mentor, and friend, @SusanWojcicki. I had the good fortune of meeting Susan 17 years ago when she was the architect of the DoubleClick acquisition. Her legacy lives on in everything she touched @google and @youtube. I am forever grateful for her friendship and guidance. I will miss her tremendously. My heart goes out to her family and loved ones.”

Earlier this year, Wojcicki faced another personal tragedy with the death of her 19-year-old son at the UC Berkeley campus where he was residing. Her passing is a profound loss to her family, friends, and the broader tech community.