Merkle Hires to Accelerate Acquisitions in EMEA

Data-driven performance marketing agency Merkle has appointed Julia Crawley-Boevey as Head of Mergers and Acquisitions for EMEA, and says next year will see its M&A activity in the region 'increasing significantly'.

The group currently employs more than 1,300 people, in twelve offices in five EMEA countries, having made its first major company buy there only in 2015. This constitutes almost a third of its global total of 4,400 employees.

Crawley-Boevey (pictured) brings more than a decade's experience in advising companies on M&A, and will take the lead on identifying appropriate acquisitions and leading both deal activity and subsequent integration. She was previously Head of Global Business Strategy and M&A at digital marketing agency iCrossing, and earlier led a team dedicated to the marketing services sector at Results International, which advises on M&A and fundraising. Her credits include advising Periscopix on its acquisition by Merkle; getting investment for Blue Rubicon from Lloyds Development Capital; advising Profero on its acquisition by IPG's Lowe & Partners; and working on Crayon's purchase by Karmarama.

Since buying Periscopix, Merkle's European acquisitions have included London-based marketing data integration firm DBG, Spanish digital intelligence consultancy DIVISADERO a,d UK-based big data analytics firm Aquilla Insight. Last month, its parent company Dentsu Aegis Network agreed to buy Netherlands and Dubai-based performance marketing agency Oxyma Group, for integration into Merkle.

Michael Komasinski, President of Merkle EMEA, comments: 'M&A will be a key pillar in our renewed drive to expand our presence across EMEA and enhance our people-based marketing capabilities in the region over the next year and beyond. Julia has unrivalled experience in helping global companies in our space to grow rapidly through M&A. We're thrilled to be working with her again and we're confident that, through her leadership, Merkle's growth in EMEA will continue to skyrocket'.

Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 16 additional offices in the US, and is online at www.merkleinc.com .

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.