Google Hires Senior P&G Exec Kirk Perry to Lead Brand Advertising Efforts

Google hired senior P&G exec Kirk Perry to lead its effort to win more brand advertising dollars from Madison Avenue. Mr. Perry, who was president of family care at P&G, was named president, brand solutions at Google, a new role reporting to Chief Business Officer Nikesh Arora. Mr. Perry becomes one of few direct reports to Mr. Arora's business group, which includes the heads of the Americas, Asia and Northern Europe. With the hire, Google is redoubling its efforts to pry brand advertising dollars from TV. "We're very focused on working closely with our marketers and agencies as they transition more of their brand marketing efforts online," Mr. Arora said, in a statement provided to Ad Age. "Kirk's experience, insights and talent will be incredibly valuable to our partners." Mr. Perry follows Lucas Watson, another former senior P&G exec who joined YouTube two years ago. Mr. Perry was briefly Mr. Watson's boss when they both worked at P&G's baby care unit and Mr. Perry, along with Global Brand Building Officer Marc Pritchard, unsuccessfully attempted to persuade Mr. Watson not to leave P&G for the Google post. Mr. Perry's last day at P&G will be Dec. 2. As head of family care, Mr. Perry led a unit that included Puffs, Bounty and Charmin, considered one of the company's more successful business units in recent years. He previously ran P&G's North American baby care business and had been tapped by former Chairman-CEO Bob McDonald to design one of many company restructuring efforts in recent years before that. He had been seen by people in and close to the company as one of the top candidates at the president level to eventually rise to CEO, though he was one level down from Group President and hadn't moved up in a recent restructuring. At P&G, his post will be added to that of Group President Steven Bishop, who will now oversee feminine and family care. Jack Neff contributing

Google Hires Senior P&G Exec Kirk Perry to Lead Brand Advertising Efforts

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