Andy Rubin, Android Creator, Steps Away From Firm Amid Misconduct Report
A spokesman for Mr. Rubin disputed the idea that Mr. Rubin had been involved in inappropriate behavior during his time at Google.
Mr. Rubin, who now runs the smartphone hardware start-up Essential, asked to take a leave of absence
this month to address personal matters, Shari Doherty, an Essential spokeswoman said.
A former Google executive who is widely credited with creating Android smartphone software has taken a leave of absence from the start-up he now runs, the company said on Wednesday — a day after a report
that he was involved in an inappropriate relationship with a female subordinate while he was at Google.
The inquiry found that the relationship was inappropriate
because the woman worked on the Android team while Mr. Rubin was leading it, this person said.
“Any relationship that Mr. Rubin had while at Google was consensual
and did not involve any person who reported to him,” Michael Sitrick, the spokesman, said.
Rubin was never told by Google that he engaged in any misconduct while at Google and he did not, either while Google or since.”
Google declined to comment on Wednesday on the circumstances surrounding Mr. Rubin’s departure.