Richard Tait (executive)

Richard John Tait (January 17, 1964 – July 25, 2022)[1] was a Scottish-born American board game creator known for developing Cranium with Whit Alexander, a fellow ex-Microsoft executive. They founded the game company Cranium, Inc. and led it until 2008, when it was acquired by Hasbro.[2][3]

Biography

Richard Tait was born in Broughty Ferry, Scotland on January 17, 1964 to his father Andrew, a Poloroid executive, and his mother Kathleen, a receptionist for a medical office.[1] He grew up in Helensburgh, Scotland and considered himself an "idea guy" from a young age.[4] His jobs included herding sheep.[5] As a newspaper delivery boy, he offered bacon and rolls in addition to the morning paper. Tait aspired to be a drummer but was encouraged by his parents to pursue accounting, which he disliked after taking an accounting class. He later said, "I was very unhappy. There was nothing about it I could find fun or exciting."[4] When his father gave him a synthesizer building kit, Tait was introduced to computer science, which he later studied at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh.[4] He moved to the United States in 1986 for a master's degree from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.[1][4]

After his graduation from Tuck School, Tait accepted a software development position at Microsoft, where he worked for 10 years.[1] He developed multiple internal businesses such as MSN HomeAdvisor, was mentored by future Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, and hired the future Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella.[1][4][6] Tait left Microsoft in 1997 and considered a career as a radio DJ.[1]

In 1998, Tait co-created the board game Cranium with Whit Alexander, another former Microsoft executive.[1][7] Inc magazine reported in 2002 that his resumé contained both "shepherd" and "Microsoft Employee of the Year".[8] Tait and Alexander expanded the operation into Cranium, Inc., which developed many games before it was acquired by Hasbro for $77.5 million in 2008.

Tait launched Golazo, a now-defunct energy drink company. He became an "entrepreneur-in-residence" at Starbucks before joining Valor Siren Ventures, a venture capital fund in Seattle.[1]

Personal life

Tait was a lifelong fan of association football.[1] He was married to Karen Fries, with whom he shared two sons and one daughter. The couple later divorced. Tait was engaged to Amy Paron at the time of his death.[1]

On July 25, 2022, at the age of 58, Tait died at his home in Bainbridge Island, Washington from complications of COVID-19.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Metz, Cade (August 3, 2022). "Richard Tait, Co-Inventor of the Board Game Cranium, Dies at 58". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Miller, Maya (August 1, 2022). "Cranium co-creator, Seattle entrepreneur Richard Tait dies after COVID". The Seattle Times.
  3. ^ Hagerty, James R. (August 3, 2022). "Former Microsoft Executive Richard Tait Created Cranium Board Game". Wall Street Journal.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Learning to put your thinking cap on". Newsday (Nassau Edition). February 27, 2005. p. 60. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  5. ^ "Idea man avoids living a bored game". The Globe and Mail. May 27, 2002. p. 31. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  6. ^ "It's Cranium mania, all brains invited". The Philadelphia Inquirer. October 15, 2000. p. 190. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
  7. ^ Schlosser, Kurt (July 28, 2022). "Richard Tait, 1964–2022: 'Cranium' inventor and serial entrepreneur was 'the ultimate dreamer'". GeekWire.
  8. ^ Bick, Julie. "Inside the Smartest Little Company in America, Planning and Strategy Article - Inc. Article". www.inc.com. Archived from the original on February 10, 2008. Retrieved November 8, 2025.
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