Google Said to Hire Former Acer Executive to Handle Taiwan Cloud Project

Taipei, March 3, 2011 (CENS)--Google has reportedly taken on Acer e-Enabling Business Service Group Vice President Simon Chang to handle its Taiwan cloud computing project amid reports that the search engine has acquired a sizable plot of land in central Taiwan to site a cloud computing center.

Informed sources pointed out that Google would likely designate Chang as president of an investment consulting firm it recently established in Taiwan to take charge of the cloud computing project.

Chang tendered his resignation to leave Acer in December 2010 using personal carrier planning as an excuse. People familiar with the resignation pointed out that Chang left because he accepted Google's job offer. They said his rich experience in information data center and information security management as well as cloud computing application made him the No. 1 target that Google wanted to poach for its Taiwan cloud computing project.

Google has reportedly set up an investment consulting firm capitalized at NT$1.2 billion (US$40.1 million at US$1: NT$30) in Taipei to take care of an NT$9 billion (US$300 million) investment project. People said the investment firm has acquired 15 hectares of land in Changhua County, central Taiwan, in preparation for the construction of a cloud computing center.

Also, they said the center will be powered by solar energy and completed in 2018.

Google has declined to comment reports on its cloud computing project in Taiwan. However, it said its Taiwan branch would hire more employees this year in line with the company's global recruitment plan.