Merkle with new Creative Directors

Merkle is expanding its creative team. Compared to the line managers, however, the new heads are to focus less on day-to-day business and more on creative performance for customers. Internally, the Directors form a horizontal group made up of the divisions of Merkle's own Creative Experiences unit. Equipped with different professional backgrounds, the creative heads are responsible for managing the entire creative output across all process phases and various disciplines.

Marco Becker, as the new Group Creative Director in Switzerland, is to focus on bringing creative excellence to the local market. Together with the other units, he will develop projects and pitches for existing and new clients. Anders Wirenstrand is the German counterpart responsible for the Creative & Content Team in Germany and Austria. He has been Creative Director at Merkle DACH for many years. Becker and Wirenstrand lead several client and creative teams at Merkle and work closely with the Managing Directors and Strategists to develop entirely new client projects.

Four new associate creative directors

The four new Associate Creative Directors operate at the project level, overseeing the creative development of selected campaigns and initiatives across all phases. They work closely with cross-functional teams, including copywriters, designers and consultants. In this way, they ensure that all creative work is unerringly aligned with the client's needs.

Joséphine Schöb is a creative strategist with a preference for branding. Her specialties are brand identities, brand language, storytelling and naming. With her background as a sociologist, journalist, brand and communication expert, she brings a wide range of experience. Joséphine started as Lead Communication Consultant at Merkle in 2022, where she has since been guiding brands from strategy to design, bringing them to life.

Antonio Haefeli is a communications expert with a focus on storytelling and conception. Since 2008, he has worked as an editor and producer in magazine journalism, as well as a concept developer and content strategist in agencies. In 2021, he joined Merkle as Lead Communication Consultant, where he is particularly interested in authentically told stories behind organizations, brands and products.

Miika Puputti becomes Executive Creative Director

Adam Machtelewski, previously a freelance designer, moved into digital media in 2011, joining a friend as a design lead. Within the last 12 years, Machtelewski has specialized in UX design, animation and illustration. He became a part of Merkle in 2017 and has since brought recognition to the industry through his broad portfolio and passion for contemporary design.

Christian Cramer-Clausbruch is an experienced producer and creative with a strong background in the film, entertainment and advertising industry. He has worked with companies such as Jung Von Matt/Hamburg, Google EMEA and Prime Video DACH and is an expert in branded content and creative innovation. He also researches the creative communication of the future together with a network in Canada and Japan.

Last but not least, Miika Puputti takes on the role of Executive Creative Director of Merkle DACH. The new roles complement the already existing Creative Directors Alexander Schmidt, Thomas Link, Fred Breslau, Wolfgang Kindermann, Nicole Binder-Hirschberger and Felix Kreller.