Google Loses Its Marketing Strategy Architect

Google’s top marketing executive, Cindy McCaffrey, has stepped down from that post to pursue personal interests, including work at the Google Foundation. McCaffrey held the title of vice president of corporate marketing.

McCaffrey is the first high-ranking employee to depart after the company’s August initial public offering. She’d been with Google for over five years and is credited with overseeing the company’s low-key marketing approach.

Since its founding, Google has relied largely on public relations, business-to-business online advertising and direct mail to get its message out. The company has avoided splashy traditional marketing efforts, even during the go-go days of the late ’90s.

Before she joined Google, McCaffrey headed corporate communications at Apple Computer, E*Trade, the 3DO Company and SmartForce.

McCaffrey will continue to be involved with the Google Foundation, a non-profit the company is developing to invest employee time and one percent of equity and profits.

Google spokespeople didn’t respond to inquiries about the hiring of a replacement for McCaffrey by press time. The company said it didn’t expect to change its overall marketing strategy despite her departure.