Zurich, 04. April - Merkle - a dentsu company is investing in creative strength in the DACH region with four new Associate Creative Directors and two new Group Creative Directors. Miika Puputti takes on the new role of Executive Creative Director DACH. Together they are to develop excellent creative visions and marketing services for Merkle clients. With the expansion of its creative team, Merkle is reacting to the positive development of the DACH market.
In contrast to the Line Managers, the new heads focus less on the day-to-day business and more on creative services for clients. Internally, the Directors form a horizontal group consisting of the areas of Merkle's own Creative Experiences unit. Equipped with different professional backgrounds, the creative minds are responsible for managing the entire creative output in all process phases and across different disciplines.
With Marco Becker, Merkle is drawing on award-winning experience: as the new Group Creative Director in Switzerland, Becker focuses on bringing creative excellence to the local market. Together with the other units, he develops projects and pitches for existing and new clients.
Anders Wirenstrand is the German counterpart responsible for the Creative & Content Team in Germany and Austria. Already Creative Director at Merkle DACH for many years, he will ensure German creative excellence in the future and contribute his wealth of knowledge in award-winning creative campaign work.
Becker and Wirenstrand lead several client and creative teams at Merkle and will work closely with the managing directors and strategists to develop entirely new client projects.
The four new Associate Creative Directors work at project level, overseeing the creative development of selected campaigns and initiatives across all phases. They work alongside cross-functional teams including copywriters, designers and consultants. This ensures that all creative work is purposefully aligned with the client's needs.
Joséphine Schöb is a creative strategist with a passion for branding. Her specialities 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 and an eye for the big picture. 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 communication 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 organisations, brands and products.
Previously a freelance designer, Adam Machtelewski moved into digital media in 2011, joining a successful friend as Design Lead. Within the last 12 years, Machtelewski has specialised in UX design, animation and illustration. He joined 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 film, entertainment and advertising. He has worked with renowned 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 and leads the squad of Creative Directors on their way to even more creative excellence. Puputti is looking forward to the new tasks and said: "We are expanding our creative footprint to bring our clients even closer and more authentically in touch with their target groups. Supported by my visionary colleagues, we will collaborate even more strongly across all units and country borders and implement lighthouse projects with our clients.”
The new positions complement the existing Creative Directors Alexander Schmidt, Thomas Link, Fred Breslau, Wolfgang Kindermann, Nicole Binder-Hirschberger and Felix Kreller.
