Dublin remains Google HQ after restructuring

Google has combined its two European regional divisions as it seeks to meet the challenges of tougher regulation across the continent, a source close to the company said yesterday.

The internet giant is merging its northern and western European division with the unit covering southern and eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa, the source said.

The shake-up follows a year of setbacks for the company on political and regulatory fronts on issues ranging from antitrust to privacy to how much tax it pays in different European nations, as well as fraught relations with some European industries including media and telecom groups.