Google hires ex-Old Spice ad creator for its marketing team

Élyse Betters | Apr 16 2012 - 5:01 pm PT

The creative mind behind the head-turning Old Spice advertising campaign just joined the Google Creative Lab.

Wieden + Kennedy’s Iain Tait is leaving his executive creative director gig behind and opting for a role that promotes Android, Google+, Chrome, and other Google-branded services. Aside from the slue of YouTube slapstick Old Spice videos, he is also known for his advertising work at Levi’s, Coke, and Nike.

“I’m going to be an ECD at Google Creative Lab in New York,” announced Tait in a blog post. “I can’t believe that I’m leaving W+K. And I can’t believe that I’m about to join Google Creative Lab. The whole thing is kind of unbelievable.”

According to Creativity Online, Tait became a partner at his previous firm just four months ago. His earlier executive experience also includes Poke, a London-based firm he founded.

“I’m fully aware of recent criticisms of Google, and I’m going into this with my eyes open. It’s not a startup anymore,” Tait wrote. “Google is a large company with vast responsibilities, and those responsibilities are only likely to grow. So it has to hold itself to ruthless standards of impeccable behavior. I’m excited and motivated by that.”

In related news, it appears Google Creative Lab is looking to scoop another up-and-coming Tait (job listing). So, get out a pen—it’s time to perfect those résumés!