Report: Ad Man David Verklin To Pilot Canoe

AdAge.com reported that Aegis Media Americas CEO David Verklin, who stepped down Monday, is expected to lead Project Canoe, the consortium aimed at establishing technical standards for placing interactive and addressable TV ads across multiple cable operators. 

Reuters reported Monday that Aegis Media Americas, which includes a group of media buying and communications agencies, said Verklin was stepping down as chief executive amid a broader restructuring of the media company. Sarah Fay, CEO of Carat U.S. and Isobar, is taking over for. 

Verklin as CEO of Aegis North America, AdAge.com said.Canoe -- the name is meant to suggest operators rowing together in the same direction -- is being backed by Comcast, Time Warner Cable, Cox Communications, Charter Communications, and Bright House Networks, with support from CableLabs. 
The New York Times reported in March the operators were investing $150 million into the initiative. The operators hired search firm Spencer Stuart to find an executive to manage Canoe, Multichannel News reported last month. 

AdAge.com described Verklin as one of the advertising industry's most visible and outspoken figures and said the cable firms wanted a strong ad agency figure to run Canoe. It said a Canoe rep could not be reached for comment.