Google Glass exec leaves for connected home company

Google Glass has lost a Business Development Executive, as Kelly Liang leaves for a position with SmartThings. Liang, who came to Google with the YouTube acquisition, was most recently the Director for Business Development with Google X.

Her work with Google X revolved around Glass, where she notably got Luxottica to sign on as an eyeglass frame partner. According to Re/Code, Liang was also key in getting the YouTube app as a default option for the iPhone in 2007. She'll be heading up the San Francisco office for SmartThings, who currently work from Minneapolis and Washington DC.

SmartThings offers connected home solutions for various partners, operating as an open source platform. Door locks by Schlage and various GE connected home gadgets like a smart outlet dot their website. Controlled via a hub and accompanying app, the platform is open source, and enjoys a long line of partners and devices.

Liang is expected to take her skills straight over, getting new partners and strengthening relationships with existing ones. If she can deliver on Google Glass frames, which was widely desired when the product came out, she can likely find partners for a unique connected home platform.

Source: Re/Code