Publicis And Google: The Exchange Program

If you haven’t yet heard the news, Publicis Groupe and Google have anounced a collaboration to swap executives at each other’s companies. The  effort is being led by Google’s Tim Armstrong and Penry Price. Publicis will represent with Digitas Chairman-CEO David Kenny. AdAge reported that the goal is to create “initiatives related to accelerating the ability of technology to make advertising more effective.”

Maurice Levy said the exchange of talent will start soon. “For a few months or a year, people from Publicis Groupe [companies] will be working at Google, and people from Google will be working at some of our companies.”

This is little exchange program is very cool. Why? These huge advertising agencies really are trying to get savvy, to bust out of their bubble and save their asses. We’re all for effort.

In the tenth grade, we participated in a foreign exchange program with a school in Quebec. We went there and had a miserable time. What was with all that French? What was with the bad TV? However, we did teach the girls about the genius of L7 and that hand jobs were so like, so lame. Just get down to the nitty gritty for heavens sake. Then, when little Emelie came to the States, it was the total reverse. We went to the city where she got lessons on how to complete her first ollie north. She learned how to shoplift at the mall and roll an expert joint, too. When she left, swear on Huckabee, Emelie had a whole new perspective on being a teenager.

Long story short – will this be an equal exchange or will Google light up Publicis’ life and get very little in return? Hell, it could be vice versa. Can’t wait to see how it all shakes out.

If you end up being one of the chosen employees, let us know how it goes?