Google appoints former Oracle executive Thomas Kurian as new chief of its cloud business

Google is set to appoint former Oracle executive Thomas Kurian as the new chief executive officer of Google Cloud. 

Kurian will join the company on November 26 and take over Google's cloud business in January, when current CEO Diane Greene is due to depart. 

Greene announced on Friday that she would be leaving the role after three years but confirmed she would stay on until January, when Kurian will take charge.

"After an unbelievably stimulating and productive three years, it's time to turn to the passions I've long had around mentoring and education," she said in the post.

She admitted that she hadn't intended to stay in the role this long and will now turn her full attention to backing female entrepreneurs and education-technology products.

Despite leaving her current position, Greene will continue to sit on the board of Google's parent company, Alphabet, where she has been a director since 2012. 

Kurian has revealed he is excited by the challenge that lay ahead of him. 

"I'm excited to join the fantastic Google Cloud team at this important and promising time," a statement read.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai also praised Greene for her work in his own statement.

"I have deep appreciation for everything Diane has done," he said. "I'm super happy that we'll continue to benefit from her wisdom as she continues serving on our board of directors."