Coupons hires Android head

Coupons Inc. has announced on Tuesday that it has hired Steven Horowitz as its chief technology officer. Horowitz will leave his position as Google's Engineering Director, a position in which he oversaw the development of the Android operating system and related software. Horowitz will oversee Coupons' global engineering, product management and technology efforts for its creation and distribution of coupons to retailers.

Horowitz spent nearly three years working on Google's open-source operating system, and has said in an interview that a change of pace is important after “spending so much time and energy” on the project. He adds that Coupons' business has been on the increase thanks to the downturn in the economy; the company plans to hire 40 new employees by the end of February, Horowitz says.

Prior to Google, Horowitz spent nine years at Microsoft, overseeing product releases that included IPTV, Windows Media Center Edition and others.

The departure signals a potential shift for Google, which has counted on Horowitz for nearly all of of its Android development and through the initial launch of the T-Mobile G1 in October. A replacement hasn't been publicly named. [via WSJ]

By Electronista Staff