HANOVER, N.J. — Google has hired a CTO for its web team, as the search giant seeks to bolster its presence in the rapidly expanding field of mobile web development.

The hiring comes as Google’s efforts to develop its mobile apps have been under scrutiny by privacy advocates.

Last month, Google said it had fired more than 2,000 employees for allegedly breaking privacy laws and would soon begin phasing out certain features of its mobile search apps.

Google’s move to hire a COO also comes as the company is battling against a new version of a new Chrome browser that would include ads that would be removed from Google Search.

The move was first reported by Bloomberg News and has been widely reported in the tech press.

Google spokesman Dan Hartman declined to comment on the hiring announcement.