I recently had lunch at a well-known private club, which brands itself as exclusively for people in the "creative community." I thought nothing of inviting a guest who was a very famous and accomplished tech developer. Not surprisingly he showed up in typical 'business nerd' attire. He didn't look much like the typical creative guy you'd find in an agency, film studio, or the media business. Not surprisingly, I got a call from the membership director shortly thereafter about my guest not adhering to the club's 'casual hip' dress code. Basically, he didn't look cool enough. This got me thinking....in …

What is the real deal here? You know it's not in the press release or the interviews the executives are doing. The truth won't even be in meetings between the merged companies, and maybe not even between those of the executives on either side. I think the true incentives are buried deep within the individual psyches of the key people. Publicis had it planned for years. Could it be that Maurice has finally found the perfect exit? One that culminates his career in a place that cannot be topped? Number one in size. For a company built on deals, this …