Google has indicated that it is to take on Amazon in the world of business-oriented cloud computing with the hiring of a highly regarded specialist in the field.

Diane Greene has been appointed as senior vice president for Google’s enterprise businesses, which will see here heading up the company’s cloud operations.

Greene is a well known Silicon Valley entrepreneur, and is the co-founder and former CEO of early cloud computing pioneer VMware. She has been on the Google board since 2012.

As The New York Times reports, Greene’s appointment marks a significant shift for Google. Up until now, its online operations have been largely focused on consumers in areas such as email and search, but it will now evidently be expanding its focus to more corporate concerns.



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The current leader in corporate cloud computing is Amazon, and Google will need to go some if it’s to catch up. However, it arguably already has the online infrastructure to match its rival, and now needs to focus on ways to appeal to businesses directly through specific software.

Presumably to that end, as part of Greene’s hiring Google has acquired her cloud software development startup, Bebop Technologies. Google CEO Sundar Pichai has said that Bebop has been pursuing “a unique, ambitious approach” to cloud software development since it started in 2012.