Dentsu-owned data-driven marketing agency Merkle has recruited former Sky and Signal chief Nick McCarthy to head up its data operations in the EMEA region.
McCarthy’s most recent role was as managing director EMEA at US cross-channel marketing technology specialist Signal, but he quit in May due to a changes at the company.
At Merkle, he takes up the role of senior vice-president of EMEA data solutions.
Merkle employs more than 3,600 people in 21 offices worldwide serving 650 major clients such as Pandora and News Corp. The company provides data analytics and performance marketing.
The US agency has been on a major expansion drive in recent years, snapping up performance marketing and programmatic agency Periscopix, independent data specialist DBG, and realtime marketing firm Comet Global Consulting.
It was bought by Dentsu Aegis Network in August 2016, in a deal which valued the firm at $1.5bn. The move saw Merkle join Dentsu Aegis’ nine existing global brands, including Gyro, although it remains semi-autonomous, with CEO David Williams remaining in charge.
McCarthy started his career in data marketing at Acxiom in 2001, ultimately becoming customer data integration services team leader before joining Experian Integrated Marketing (previously ClarityBlue) as director of decision management in 2005.
The data division subsequently became part of BSkyB to form BSkyIQ, and McCarthy became information and decision sciences director, leading a team of nearly 100 staff across five separate sites.
He was then appointed client development director, before taking on the role of head of data partnerships in September 2015. He left to join Signal in November 2016.
Related stories
Nick McCarthy exits adtech giant Signal after 6 months
Sky data chief McCarthy joins Signal as EMEA boss
Merkle is gobbled up as Dentsu Aegis swoops again
Dentsu swoops as Gyro finally sells to major group
Merkle buys CRM specialist with third deal in a year
Merkle acquires DBG as UK expansion continues
