Twitter Snags 2 Google Ad Execs

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Twitter has poached two Google execs with international ad sales experience - Shailesh Rao (pictured, top) and Stephen McIntyre (below) - to attract more spend from SMBs and big brands.

McIntyre will help run Twitter's forthcoming self-service ad platform, resuming a role he played for Google in Ireland during the last seven years. He'll manage the platform from Dublin and appears to be tasked with cultivating European marketers' interest in Promoted Tweets and Promoted Accounts. Twitter ultimately aims to get small businesses around the globe hooked on its marketing products the way they have regularly spent budget on Google and Facebook advertising in recent years.

Rao is charged with setting up Twitter's direct sales teams in countries and regions, the San Francisco firm said, where it "is ready to monetize its service." He comes from Google's Asia display ads division.

Adam Bain, Twitter's global revenue head, announced the hires early this morning by tweeting to his 8,500-plus followers. In a prepared statement released later today, he stated, "2012 will be a pivotal year for Twitter and our advertising business. These hires are key to bringing our Promoted Products to more markets around the world and helping businesses everywhere get value from advertising on Twitter. I couldn't be more excited."

Bain's been busy in recent months cherry-picking Google talent. In December, his company brought aboard U.K. YouTube sales head Bruce Daisley to run its sales team in that country.