Google China chief John Liu steps down

Google's China chief has stepped down, the company has confirmed.

In an e-mailed statement sent to The Next Web on Monday, Google confirmed that John Liu has left the company to "pursue other opportunities." Liu led Google's China operation for nearly six years. In its statement, the company said Liu was "instrumental to developing Google's business in China."

Liu saw his fair share of troubles in China over the years. He was there as Google dealt with search complaints and censorship attempts from the Chinese government, led the initiative that took the search platform "offshore" to Hong Kong, and dealt with alleged Chinese government hacking of the company's services.

According to Google, Liu will be replaced by the company's business partnership leader in Europe, Scott Beaumont. He'll take on his new role in mid-August.