Chip Register, co-CEO of Publicis.Sapient tasked with overseeing Marcel, is leaving
Chip Register is stepping down from his role as co-CEO of Publicis.Sapient to focus on building a digital engagement center for Prevention of Violence, a nonprofit he founded with his wife.
Chip Register
Alan Wexler, who previously served as co-CEO alongside Register, will now take over as chief executive.
Just months ago, Register was tasked with leading the development of Marcel, the AI platform that Publicis Groupe revealed plans for at the Cannes Lions festival earlier this year. During a Twitter Q&A session about Marcel that took place in June, Publicis Groupe chairman and chief executive Arthur Sadoun joked that Register’s “got 11.5 months to destroy a 25 year long career as a tech genius.”
It will be led by Chip Register Co-CEO of Publicis.Sapient He's got 11.5 months to destroy a 25 year long career as a tech genius.
— Arthur Sadoun (@ArthurSadoun) June 26, 2017
Since it was announced, Marcel has proven to be controversial since Publicis Groupe is skipping awards shows for one year to focus its time and money on building the AI platform, much to the chagrin of agency creatives. Next year, Publicis Groupe plans to reveal Marcel at its Viva Tech conference in Paris.
In a statement, Sadoun said of Register’s departure: “I want to thank Chip for his many years of leadership and wish him success on the launch of this digital engagement center as it is an important step forward toward the reduction of violence in our society. We are proud to help sponsor this initiative, and Publicis will work as a partner to enable its purpose.”
According to Publicis Groupe, general manager Véronique Weill and chief talent officer Emmanuel André were hired this summer to help drive the Marcel project forward. The holding company said that André is serving as the architect of Marcel in charge of the interface while Weill is serving as overall project director.