Alphabet’s Verily Announces Layoffs Amid Strategic Restructuring

Life sciences subsidiary of Alphabet New Verily CEO Stephen Gillett announced in an email to employees on Wednesday that the company is laying off 15% of its workforce due to the need to focus its strategy, prioritize products and change its operating model.

Verily has over 1600 employees. Wall Street Journalwhich was the first to announce layoffs, which means that more than 200 employees will be affected.

Reorganization will affect approximately 15% of Verily’s positions due to discontinued programs, duplication within the organization and taking full control of its subsidiaries – data-driven risk analysis tool Detailed and digital healthcare platform for chronic disease management Onduo.

The company will stop developing its healthcare analytics tool. Verily Value Suite, as well as his work on remote patient monitoring for heart failure and microneedles for drug delivery.

It will shift its focus to the use of AI and data science to become “the data and evidence base for precision health care,” bridging the gap between research and care and prioritizing products that provide accurate, evidence-based interventions. The company will also expand Granular and streamline its operating model to promote greater collaboration between its teams.

In addition to layoffs, Gillett announced a restructuring of its management team.

Amy Abernathy will become president of product development and chief medical officer, while Lisa Greenbaum will expand her responsibilities in a new role as chief commercial officer, overseeing sales, corporate strategy teams and marketing.

Jordy Parramon, President of Verily’s Devices Division, will leave Verily “later this year” and will remain to help with the transition for now. Scott Burke will take on new responsibilities as Chief Technology Officer, including hardware and device engineering.

STATISTICS confirmed that co-founder Jessica Mega and former president of medical platforms Vivian Lee are also leaving the company.

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The life sciences company was founded in 2015 by Alphabet’s R&D arm, then called Google X.

In September, Verily announced it has raised $1 billion in a funding round led by its parent company Alphabet, as well as reshuffling its executive team.

Company founder Andy Conrad stepped down as CEO to become Verily’s executive chairman, and Gillette was announced as the company’s new CEO. He took over the reins as CEO just this month.

Gillett joined Google’s life sciences subsidiary two years ago to open the Cybersecurity Center of Excellence. Later in 2020, he took over the role chief operating and presidential title. Previously, he was the co-founder and CEO of cybersecurity company Alphabet Chronicle, now part of Google Cloud.

The life sciences company has entered into numerous partnerships, including with a remote heart monitoring company. iRhythm Technologies, San Diego-based connected sleep device maker ResMed, biopharmaceutical company Sosei Heptares, cosmetics giant L’Oréal, dental company Colgate-Palmolive, and Mayo Clinic.

Verily also acquired a clinical trial management system developer. SignalPath and invested in AI voice tool Syllable, biotech company EQRx, and biotech startup Culture Biosciences.