Google trawls TV and media shops for Euro ad chief

Google is understood to be looking for a head of advertising for Europe, as it ramps up its marketing activities in the UK and Europe.

It is believed to be talking with senior executives from television and media agencies about the role. One insider says the search engine giant is looking for someone who can talk to major multinational brand marketers “in a language they understand”.

It is understood that personalities such as former ITV Sales managing director Graham Duff are being considered for the role.

A Google spokeswoman says: “Google continues its recruitment drive to hire the brightest and best people across all functions of the business. We are looking for candidates who are smart, motivated and focused. We’re also recruiting for senior positions. We are looking for highly dynamic and proficient individuals with tremendous sales and people skills to build our European team.”

The news comes as Google opens a new office in Manchester to service clients in the Midlands and North of England, and sets up a new “inside sales” operation at its European headquarters in Dublin. “Inside sales” will incorporate all sales operations conducted at a distance, including telemarketing, fax marketing and online sales. Face-to-face selling is now being called “outside sales”. Google is hunting for a director of European inside sales.