While this post on a Ning site (that's Jen H) is a little old I found the concept interesting. There is a real rise in procurement negotiating the agency/marketer relationship. I even know at HP we have agencies to broker certain types of deals for us. For example, the ebook campaign I concepted, worked out with Jared at Federated Media, then contacted Kristin, who's a regional HP employee to have Zenith Optemedia, our online media buyer, purchase the media with Federated Media. There's always a chance for the intent being "lost in translation". And if it wasn't for that original connection with Jared I think it would have been.
