Google exec Deep Nishar leaves for LinkedIn

Longtime Google executive Dipchand “Deep” Nishar is leaving the search giant for professional networking site LinkedIn, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Nishar, who is Google’s Asia-Pacific director of product management, will become LinkedIn’s vice president of product strategy. He’s taking over the lead product role previously handled by LinkedIn founder and chairman Reid Hoffman, who will focus on long-term planning.

The last year has seen a number of high-profile Googlers depart for startups, most notably Sheryl Sandberg taking on the chief operating officer role at Facebook. Facebook’s Benjamin Ling recently reversed the exodus by returning to Google.

Although a recent funding round brought LinkedIn’s total financing to more than $100 million, the company also laid off 10 percent of its workforce last month.