Google nets another high-profile hire for open Web strategy

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So much gets made of the alleged brain drain at Google. What do you call it when Google adds brains: brain gain?

Today on his 29th birthday, open Web advocate Chris Messina announced on his blog he is going to work for ‘The Man,’ er, Google. Also credit Social Web TV for the big interview.

Chris Messina Credit: Brian Solis.

Messina is joining the Internet giant as, what else, its open Web advocate. He is the second high-profile open Web evangelist to join Google. Recently Joseph Smarr, the former CTO of Plaxo and its first employee, did the same, saying the move later this month was a no-brainer for him. ‘In my experience, Google is unmatched in its commitment to doing what’s right for the future of the Web and its willingness to think long-term,’ he wrote. Like other bright lights, they each had other options. Messina says he felt he could make a bigger impact at Google.

Recruiting this duo is good news for Google, which lost Kevin Marks in August to British Telecom. And it could mean more momentum for its strategy to pry open the Web.

-- Jessica Guynn