Google Executive and UC Alumnus Kirk Perry to Receive Honorary Doctorate from UC

Google executive Kirk Perry knows a thing or two about branding, and much of his expertise was cultivated at the University of Cincinnati.

Perry, president of brand solutions at one of the most successful brands in the world, will be given an Honorary Doctorate of Commercial Science by his alma mater at UC's Spring Commencement on May 2.

An honorary doctorate is the university's most prestigious award. The special recognition will be bestowed upon Perry and three other esteemed recipients during Commencement events held from May 1-2 in Fifth Third Arena. The tradition-rich celebration will be held from May 1-2 in Fifth Third Arena, and it includes multiple ceremonies: the Doctoral Hooding and Master’s Recognition Ceremony at 10 a.m. May 1, and Undergraduate Commencement Ceremonies (bachelor and associate degrees) will be presented at 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. May 2.

Perry, who also will deliver the commencement address, was named president of brand solutions at Google in 2013, a new senior executive role reporting to the chief business officer. With more than 50,000 employees, Google operates 70 offices in more than 40 countries.   

Prior to Google, Perry served as president of global family care at Procter & Gamble. This unit encompassed many of P&G’s most successful brands, including Bounty, Charmin and Puffs. Perry served in several roles of progressive leadership at P&G, including: vice president for US Operations and NA Marketing; vice president of North American Baby Care; and marketing director in both Japan and Korea. He joined P&G in 1990 as an assistant brand manager and was later named one of the youngest general managers in the company.

From 2006 to 2013, Perry served on the board of the UC Foundation, where he chaired the Marketing and Communications Committee. He is a vice chairman of the UC Bicentennial Commission. He is also a former member of the Lindner Honors-PLUS Fundraising Committee, the Lindner College of Business Advisory Council and the Lindner College of Business Networking Group. He has been an active supporter of the Alumni Association, UCATS, Charles McMicken Society, Herman Schneider Legacy Society and George Smith Society. In 2012, he received the Lindner College of Business Distinguished Service Award. He was recognized with the UC Foundation Chairman’s Award in 2013 and the Alumni Distinguished Service Award in 2014.

A 1990 graduate of the Lindner College of Business, Perry was a member of Sigma Sigma, Phi Delta Theta, Men of Metro, Mortar Board and ODK. In addition to serving as president of the Student Government, Perry was named Mr. Bearcat, Homecoming King and outstanding LCOB graduate and Marketing Student of the Year.

CEREMONY DETAILS

Information about the ceremony

– including when to arrive, where to park, how to take part via social media and more – is available online.

MORE TO LEARN

Further information is available

on the Commencement website.