Google has quietly replaced its influential head of the Maps division, Brian McClendon. He served as the Vice President of Google Maps and was substituted by another veteran Jen Fitzpatrick.

According to reports the change happened around October last year, when Sundar Pichai was promoted to be Google's product chief.

It has been reported that currently McClendon is weighing his options. It is also being said that he is considering opportunities to start a new project within Google.

He was an engineering VP at a digital mapping software company Keyhole that Google acquired in 2004 which became the foundation of Google Earth.

In 2013, McClendon observed that 20 per cent of search queries on Google are location specific. Also in 2013, he was awarded the United Nations Champions of the Earth award for 'harnessing the power of technology to support conservation and green economic development.'