Google is experiencing some bumps in transitioning from a smaller innovator to a larger, more mature player in the market. Over the past year or so there have been numerous employee departures, often to start new companies themselves or to join what used to be called “pre-IPO” startups (e.g., Facebook).

The most recent case involves YouTube’s revenue chief, Shashi Seth. Seth left to take a position as chief revenue officer at Cooliris.

Om Malik quotes Seth complaining that Google had become too big for him: “I think part of being a Googler is that you like smaller environments, and I think Google got a little big for me.” But Malik also speculates that Seth had a “thankless job” in trying to figure out how to maximize revenues at YouTube.

Other long-time Google employees have also complained about things becoming more challenging there because of the company’s size. Yet there’s no way for Google to pretend to be a small company. It has to figure out how to maintain its storied culture in a much larger organization, which is, of necessity, more bureaucratic.

Related Topics: Google: Employees | Google: YouTube & Video

About The Author: Greg Sterling is a Contributing Editor at Search Engine Land. He writes a personal blog Screenwerk, about SoLoMo issues and connecting the dots between online and offline. He also posts at Internet2Go, which is focused on the mobile Internet. Follow him @gsterling. See more articles by Greg Sterling