• by Joe Mandese  @mp_joemandese, May 30, 2008

The Carat Digital Exchange, one of the most visible leading edge initiatives inside Aegis Group's Carat Americas unit over the past four years, is looking for a new home. In a note to an ad hoc group of exchange participants sent by email late Thursday night, founder and organizer Mitch Oscar said Carat was disbanding the project - though he hinted it would reappear somewhere soon, adding, "see you in September."

The move follows the recent announcement that David Verklin would step down as CEO of Carat Americas at the end of the year to pursue another job in the media industry. Verklin, who has overseen Aegis' American operations for a decade, is rumored to be the presumed candidate to run Project Canoe, a cable industry initiative to develop the kind of addressable TV advertising platform championed by the Carat Digital Exchange over the past several years. Several publications, including The New York Post have already reported Verklin's appointment as a fait accompli, though executives familiar with the discussions say there still are sticking points that need to be resolved. An official announcement is expected next week.

Oscar, reached late last night by MediaDailyNews, would not comment specifically on where the Exchange might end up, but implied he was in conversations with other agencies and media companies, and vowed that the meetings would resume again somewhere soon. The meetings have been a rare thing in the ultra competitive advertising business: A place where both competitors and collaborators could exchange insights, updates and new future developments with peers to help inform and shape the industry's development of interactive and enhanced television platforms. Recently, the Exchange initiated a survey of the technology and media consumption habits of exchange members, as well as a broader cross-section of media industry insiders including members of MediaPost. A link to the survey, which is being conducted by OTX Research, can be accessed here . Oscar said the findings of that research would likely be revealed at the next exchange meeting, wherever it is held.

Beyond that, Verklin declined to comment on his plans. While he also manages his own personal consultancy, Hocus Focus, he is known to be close to Verklin, and would be a logical recruit if Verklin were to end up managing Canoe.