Google DeepMind’s leadership shakeup has highlighted British concerns over foreign takeovers, as co-founder Demis Hassabis steps down as CEO to focus on science and the “big picture.” His divisional CEO role is being retired, with Koray Kavukcuoglu, a pre-Google DeepMind employee now based in Mountain View, California, taking over as “Senior Vice President.” The episode sent “shockwaves” through the company’s Kings Cross office, according to the Financial Times. Alphabet Inc., which bought the UK-based firm in 2014 for £400 million ($540 million), is not criticized for the move, as the purchase granted it full control. However, the situation underscores policy concerns about where executive power resides, as high-value jobs and industry clusters often follow headquarters. Similar issues arise with public-company listings, as moving a primary listing to New York can pull headquarters and key people, potentially aiding S&P 500 inclusion. The article notes that foreign takeovers can also bring benefits, such as expertise and financial resources, which Alphabet has provided considerably, though it does not specify what might have happened had DeepMind remained independent.