In late 2014, it was revealed that Andy Rubin would be leaving Google. Now some new details on exactly why the father of Android left Google have surfaced.
Rubin left Google after an investigation determined that he'd had an "inappropriate relationship" with a woman who worked under him. That's according to a report from The Information, who added that the woman filed a complaint about Rubin to Google HR.
Mike Sitrick, Rubin's spokesperson, denied the report. "Any relationship that Mr. Rubin had wile at Google was consensual," Sitrick said. "Mr. Rubin was never told by Google that he engaged in any misconduct while at Google and he did not, either while at Google or since."
According to Google's policy, the woman that worked under Rubin on the Android team would've been moved to another division had the relationship been reported. The investigation, which took place in 2014 following Rubin's departure from the Android team in 2013, determined that "Rubin's behavior was improper and showed bad judgment."
After today's news came out, Essential confirmed that Andy Rubin has taken a leave of absence. Essential is Rubin's new company that launched the Essential Phone earlier this year. According to Essential, Rubin asked for a leave of absence at a board meeting in November in order to deal with "personal matters." Niccolo de Masi will serve as Essential's president in the interim.