Tech Mpire’s star ex-Google recruit has quit the top job to spend more time with his family.

Lee Hunter, a former head of marketing at Google, was hired in March last year as CEO and managing director of Tech Mpire (ASX:TMP).

Tech Mpire’s shares have dropped 56 per cent since then.

Tech Mpire boss Lee Hunter has stepped down as CEO.
Tech Mpire boss Lee Hunter has stepped down as CEO.

Mr Hunter will instead move across to a Chief Operating Officer role based in Sydney.

“For the last year I’ve been traveling weekly between Tech Mpire’s offices. With the impending birth of my first child, it’s now become difficult for me to balance my time traveling across the country and overseas,” Mr Hunter said.

“In lieu of the CEO role, I’m very pleased to undertake the COO role to run our operations and continue to drive our international growth strategies.”

Director of corporate development Mathew Ratty is stepping up as interim chief. He will get bonuses based on performance hurdles until the company finds a long term boss.

Tech Mpire’s shares were down 4 per cent to 11c on Tuesday morning.

Tech Mpire's shares over the last 12 months have been a downward slope.
Tech Mpire’s shares over the last 12 months have been a downward slope.