Industry Moves: DoubleClick's Rubenstein Is The Latest Google Exec To Exit
Michael Rubenstein is the latest high profile Google (NSDQ: GOOG) exec to depart the company to pursue other interests, MediaMemo’s Peter Kafka reported. Rubenstein was a VP and director of Google’s Ad Exchange, which is part of the DoubleClick unit and serves as a platform for display ad sales. Rubenstein arrived at Google with the acquisition of DoubleClick for $3.1 billion two years ago. While this exit follows a growing line of Googlers out the door over the past few months, Rubenstein’s decision to leave now comes as Google is still trying to follow through on its promise to do for display ad sales what it did for search ads. That effort suffered its first blow back in April, when former Doubleclick CEO David Rosenblatt stepped down. Rubenstein joined DoubleClick in 2001 when the company he worked for, e-mail marketer FloNetwork, was acquired. Google has not named a replacement for Rubenstein, but Kafka reported that the it is looking to make an outside hire. There was also no word on what sort of “opportunities” Rubenstein is pursuing.
Rubnestein was a nobody at Doubleclick. He talked a good game, but was known for the AOL deal with DCLK. That was about it.
We used Google ad click campaign and found our ads in Europe when we specified US only. When they billed us, we asked for an accounting of where the clicks were generated. Google could not/would not provide that information. If Google can't tell a customer where clicks were generated or for how much, how can Google bill their customers? No more Google ad clicks for us. Without documenation of where clicks were generated or at what price, Google couldn't legally charge our company. Plus we received an email last month stating Google is settling a class action lawsuit for $34 million for overcharging their customers for clicks. We can opt in or opt out of the class action lawsuit. How great is Google's ad click campaigns? I recommend not participating until Google offers accountability. Google can charge you anything they want… without documentation. Who does business that way? Google.