Merkle Executive and Leadership Team

May, 2026

Leadership Overview

Merkle has 10 executives leading key functions including operations, technology, finance, marketing, revenue, and executive leadership.

Driven by data-centric strategies, Merkle leverages technology and analytics to personalize customer experiences and optimize advertising effectiveness, solidifying its position as a leader in customer experience management.

Leadership Roles at Merkle

  • Chief Executive Officer, CXM & Chief Solutions Officer (Latin America) - Juan Camilo Suarez
  • Chief Financial Officer - Thomas Meisner
  • Chief Operating Officer - Melissa Foristall
  • Global Chief Operating Officer, Promotion, Loyalty & CRM - Deana Derocha
  • Chief Operating Officer, Performance Media - Emily Gouwens
  • Chief Information Officer - Shawn Streett
  • Chief Marketing Officer - Cathy Wei
  • Senior Chief Revenue Officer & Manager - Devan Spencer
  • Global Chief of Staff, CXM - Samantha O'Neil
  • Chief Operations Officer - Keith Lippiatt
  • Juan Camilo Suarez - Chief Executive Officer, CXM & Chief Solutions Officer (Latin America)

    Juan Camilo Suarez, the Chief Executive Officer, CXM & Chief Solutions Officer (Latin America) at Merkle, leads the company's customer experience management (CXM) vision and solution development across the Latin American region. Suarez directs the strategic integration of data, technology, and analytics to create personalized customer journeys and optimize advertising effectiveness within this key market. This executive role involves spearheading the delivery of Merkle's comprehensive service portfolio, including performance media, enterprise technology, and CRM software, tailored for Latin American clients. The Chief Executive Officer, CXM & Chief Solutions Officer (Latin America) is pivotal in driving innovation and ensuring Merkle's solutions meet the unique demands of regional businesses. By fostering strong client relationships and championing new solutions, Juan Camilo Suarez solidifies Merkle's leadership in managing customer relationships and enhancing B2B marketing efforts throughout Latin America.
    Juan Camilo Suarez

    Thomas Meisner - Chief Financial Officer

    Thomas Meisner, the Chief Financial Officer at Merkle, directs the financial strategy and fiscal operations that underpin the company's growth and market expansion. Meisner oversees all aspects of financial planning, budgeting, and reporting, ensuring the economic health of the organization. This critical role involves managing investments in new technologies and services, such as enterprise technology and CRM software, to maintain Merkle's competitive edge. The Chief Financial Officer is instrumental in evaluating market opportunities and allocating resources to support performance media, loyalty marketing, and B2B marketing solutions. By providing financial oversight, Thomas Meisner ensures Merkle can effectively manage customer relationships and deliver personalized experiences. Meisner's financial acumen supports Merkle's mission to make advertising more addressable and customer experiences more personal, driving sustainable profitability.

    Melissa Foristall - Chief Operating Officer

    Melissa Foristall, the Chief Operating Officer at Merkle, directs the operational framework supporting the company's extensive customer experience management services. Foristall oversees the integration of data, technology, and analytics across various departments, ensuring seamless execution of client strategies. This leadership role involves optimizing internal processes to enhance service delivery in performance media, enterprise technology, and CRM software solutions. By focusing on operational efficiency, Foristall drives the company's capacity to manage complex customer relationships and deliver personalized experiences at scale. The Chief Operating Officer ensures that Merkle's operational backbone consistently supports its market-leading position in loyalty marketing and B2B solutions, directly impacting client satisfaction and retention. Melissa Foristall's oversight guarantees the robust functioning of Merkle's core service offerings.

    Deana Derocha - Global Chief Operating Officer, Promotion, Loyalty & CRM

    Deana Derocha, the Global Chief Operating Officer, Promotion, Loyalty & CRM at Merkle, directs the operational execution for key customer engagement pillars. Derocha oversees the strategic implementation and management of promotion, loyalty, and customer relationship management (CRM) software solutions globally. This leadership position involves ensuring that Merkle's data, technology, and analytics capabilities are fully leveraged to create personalized customer experiences within these specific domains. The Global Chief Operating Officer, Promotion, Loyalty & CRM is pivotal in driving client success by optimizing the effectiveness of loyalty programs and CRM strategies. By focusing on these critical areas, Deana Derocha enhances Merkle's ability to manage customer relationships and foster long-term brand advocacy. Derocha's operational expertise ensures these core Merkle services deliver maximum impact.

    Emily Gouwens - Chief Operating Officer, Performance Media

    Emily Gouwens, the Chief Operating Officer, Performance Media at Merkle, directs the operational excellence within the company's performance media division. Gouwens oversees the strategic execution of data-driven advertising campaigns, ensuring optimal reach and return on investment for clients. This leadership role involves managing the complex interplay of technology, analytics, and creative services to deliver highly addressable advertising solutions. The Chief Operating Officer, Performance Media is responsible for optimizing campaign performance, driving efficiency in media buying, and ensuring the seamless integration of Merkle's data and technology platforms. By focusing on operational rigor, Emily Gouwens enhances Merkle's ability to manage customer acquisition and engagement through targeted digital strategies. Gouwens's operational leadership ensures the performance media function consistently achieves superior client outcomes.

    Shawn Streett - Chief Information Officer

    Shawn Streett, the Chief Information Officer at Merkle, architects the technological infrastructure that powers the company's data-driven customer experience solutions. Streett directs the strategic implementation and management of enterprise technology, ensuring robust security and scalability for all digital operations. This role involves overseeing the development and maintenance of systems that support Merkle's core services, including CRM software, performance media platforms, and analytics tools. The Chief Information Officer is critical in enabling the company to leverage data effectively for personalized advertising and enhanced customer relationships. By driving technological innovation, Shawn Streett ensures Merkle remains at the forefront of digital transformation, supporting B2B marketing and loyalty programs with cutting-edge solutions. Streett's leadership ensures the technological foundation supports Merkle's mission to make advertising more addressable and customer experiences more personal.
    Shawn Streett

    Cathy Wei - Chief Marketing Officer

    Cathy Wei, the Chief Marketing Officer at Merkle, leads the strategic marketing initiatives that amplify the company's brand presence and market reach. Wei directs the development and execution of integrated marketing campaigns, focusing on showcasing Merkle's expertise in customer experience management. This role involves leveraging data and analytics to drive targeted advertising efforts and enhance customer engagement across all service lines, including performance media and loyalty marketing. The Chief Marketing Officer is responsible for communicating Merkle's value proposition to clients and the broader market, highlighting its capabilities in CRM software and B2B solutions. By shaping the company's external narrative, Cathy Wei ensures Merkle's message of personalized customer experiences resonates effectively. Wei's marketing leadership reinforces Merkle's position as a data-driven innovator.
    Cathy Wei

    Devan Spencer - Senior Chief Revenue Officer & Manager

    Devan Spencer, the Senior Chief Revenue Officer & Manager at Merkle, drives the company's revenue generation strategies and sales operations. Spencer oversees the commercial teams responsible for expanding Merkle's market share across all service offerings, including performance media, enterprise technology, and CRM software. This role is critical in translating Merkle's data-driven approach to customer experience management into tangible business outcomes for clients. The Senior Chief Revenue Officer & Manager works closely with other C-suite leaders to align sales efforts with the company's overall strategic objectives, focusing on B2B marketing and loyalty solutions. By cultivating strong client partnerships and identifying new growth opportunities, Devan Spencer ensures Merkle's continued financial success. Spencer's leadership directly contributes to Merkle's ability to deliver addressable advertising and personalized customer experiences.

    Samantha O'Neil - Global Chief of Staff, CXM

    Samantha O'Neil, the Global Chief of Staff, CXM at Merkle, provides strategic support and operational coordination for the company's global customer experience management (CXM) initiatives. O'Neil works across departments to ensure alignment with Merkle's core mission of leveraging data, technology, and analytics for personalized customer experiences. This role involves facilitating communication and collaboration among executive leadership, driving key strategic projects, and optimizing the operational flow of CXM services. The Global Chief of Staff, CXM plays a crucial part in translating high-level CXM strategies into actionable plans that enhance performance media, enterprise technology, and CRM software delivery. By streamlining operations and supporting executive decision-making, Samantha O'Neil enhances Merkle's capacity to manage customer relationships effectively and deliver impactful B2B marketing solutions. O'Neil ensures cohesive execution of Merkle's CXM vision.

    Keith Lippiatt - Chief Operations Officer

    Keith Lippiatt, the Chief Operations Officer at Merkle, oversees the broad operational infrastructure that supports the company's diverse customer experience management services. Lippiatt directs the strategic planning and execution of operational processes across various functions, ensuring efficiency and scalability. This role involves optimizing the delivery of Merkle's core offerings, including performance media, enterprise technology, and CRM software, by enhancing internal workflows and resource allocation. The Chief Operations Officer is critical in ensuring that Merkle's technological capabilities and data analytics are effectively deployed to manage customer relationships and personalize experiences. By focusing on operational integrity, Keith Lippiatt strengthens Merkle's capacity to innovate and execute complex B2B marketing and loyalty solutions. Lippiatt's leadership ensures Merkle's operational framework consistently supports its market objectives.
    Keith Lippiatt

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    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Merkle Top Executives and Leadership Team

    Who leads Merkle?
    Merkle is led by Juan Camilo Suarez (Chief Executive Officer, CXM & Chief Solutions Officer (Latin America)), along with executives such as Thomas Meisner (Chief Financial Officer) and Melissa Foristall (Chief Operating Officer).
    Who is part of Merkle’s executive team?
    The executive team of Merkle includes leaders such as Juan Camilo Suarez (Chief Executive Officer, CXM & Chief Solutions Officer (Latin America)), Thomas Meisner (Chief Financial Officer), Melissa Foristall (Chief Operating Officer) and other senior executives.
    How many executives does Merkle have?
    Merkle has 10 executives leading key business areas.
    What roles are included in Merkle’s leadership team?
    The leadership team of Merkle includes roles such as Chief Executive Officer, CXM & Chief Solutions Officer (Latin America), Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Global Chief Operating Officer, Promotion, Loyalty & CRM, Chief Operating Officer, Performance Media.