# Prabhakar Raghavan

> Senior VP at Google, previous head of Yahoo Search

**Wikidata**: [Q7237222](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q7237222)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prabhakar_Raghavan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/prabhakar-raghavan

## Summary
Prabhakar Raghavan is an Indian-American computer scientist and business manager currently serving as a Senior Vice President at Google. He is known for his leadership in the technology sector, specifically for his previous role as the head of Yahoo Search. Raghavan is also a recognized academic and industry figure, serving as a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

## Biography
- **Born:** September 25, 1960
- **Birthplace:** India
- **Nationality:** United States
- **Education:** University of California, Berkeley; Indian Institute of Technology Madras
- **Known for:** Senior VP at Google; previous head of Yahoo Search
- **Employer(s):** Google (2012–present), Yahoo (2005), IBM
- **Field(s):** Computer Science, Business Management

## Contributions
Prabhakar Raghavan has held significant leadership positions across major technology corporations, bridging the gap between computer science research and business management. He currently serves as a Senior Vice President at Google, a position he has held since starting with the company in 2012. In this capacity, he has been the subject of extensive industry analysis, with publications such as *Wired* noting that "Prabhakar Raghavan Isn’t CEO of Google—He Just Runs the Place."

Prior to his tenure at Google, Raghavan was the head of Yahoo Search, starting in 2005. His career also includes a tenure at IBM. Beyond his corporate roles, Raghavan has contributed to the discourse on technology and user behavior, notably delivering a talk titled "Why Computer Scientists Need to Understand Consumer Behavior" in 2014. His work has been influential enough to warrant coverage in critical industry analyses, including the article "The Men Who Killed Google Search."

## FAQs
### Q: What is Prabhakar Raghavan's current role?
A: He is a Senior Vice President at Google, a role he has held since joining the company in 2012.

### Q: Where did Prabhakar Raghavan work before Google?
A: Before joining Google, he was the head of Yahoo Search (starting in 2005) and worked for IBM.

### Q: What are Prabhakar Raghavan's academic credentials?
A: He is a computer scientist educated at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the University of California, Berkeley. He is an ACM Fellow and a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

### Q: What awards has Prabhakar Raghavan received?
A: He was named an ACM Fellow in 2001 and received the Machtey Award in 1986.

## Why They Matter
Prabhakar Raghavan represents a distinct convergence of high-level computer science research and executive management within the internet industry. His career trajectory—from IBM and Yahoo to the senior leadership of Google—places him at the center of the search and information retrieval ecosystem. As a member of the National Academy of Engineering and a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, his influence extends beyond corporate management into the theoretical and practical advancement of computer science. Industry observers credit him with substantial influence over Google's strategic direction, marking him as a primary architect of modern internet search and advertising infrastructure.

## Notable For
- Serving as **Senior Vice President at Google**.
- Formerly leading **Yahoo Search**.
- Election to the **National Academy of Engineering**.
- Status as an **ACM Fellow** (class of 2001).
- Receiving the **Machtey Award** in 1986.

## Body

### Early Life and Education
Prabhakar Raghavan was born on September 25, 1960, in India. He later acquired United States citizenship. His higher education includes studies at the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and the University of California, Berkeley.

### Corporate Career
Raghavan’s executive career spans three major American technology companies:
*   **IBM:** He spent a portion of his career with this multinational technology corporation.
*   **Yahoo:** He served as the head of Yahoo Search, beginning his tenure in 2005.
*   **Google:** He joined Google in 2012 and currently holds the title of Senior Vice President.

His management style and impact have been documented in various media. A 2024 article in *Wired* by Steven Levy highlighted his extensive influence with the headline, "Prabhakar Raghavan Isn’t CEO of Google—He Just Runs the Place."

### Academic and Professional Recognition
Raghavan is a distinguished figure in the computer science community.
*   **ACM Fellow:** Elected in 2001 for his contributions to the field.
*   **National Academy of Engineering:** Elected as a member (ID: 30744).
*   **Machtey Award:** Received this award in 1986.

### Publications and Media
Raghavan has engaged with the broader tech community through lectures and media. In 2014, he presented "Why Computer Scientists Need to Understand Consumer Behavior." His professional profile is maintained across numerous academic and library databases, including VIAF, Scopus, and the Library of Congress.

## References

1. [Source](https://starsunfolded.com/prabhakar-raghavan/)
2. [Source](https://acr.iitm.ac.in/latestdaas/dr-prabhakar-raghavan/)
3. [The Man Who Killed Google Search. 2024](https://www.wheresyoured.at/the-men-who-killed-google/)
4. [Prabhakar Raghavan Isn’t CEO of Google—He Just Runs the Place](https://www.wired.com/story/prabhakar-raghavan-isnt-ceo-of-google-he-just-runs-the-place)
5. [Source](https://awards.acm.org/fellows/award-recipients)
6. [Source](https://data.dnb.de/opendata/authorities-gnd-person_lds.rdf.gz)
7. Virtual International Authority File
8. X
9. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File