Search giant Google (GOOGL 0.18%) has announced that its Android chief, Andy Rubin, is stepping down in order to "start a new chapter at Google."

CEO Larry Page announced the change on Google's official blog today. Google did not specify which department Rubin may be headed toward. Rubin co-founded the start-up Android before Google acquired it in 2005, and has led development ever since.

Taking Rubin's place will be Sundar Pichai, who has worked on Chrome and Google Apps. The Chrome browser has been another important success story for Google, and Page expressed confidence that Pichai is the right man for the job.

Page also noted that the company's Nexus program continues to drive mobile innovation, and that Google now has global partnerships with more than 60 hardware manufacturers. There have been more than 750 million Android devices activated to date.

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