Merkle www.merkle.com, the nation's largest and fastest growing independent customer relationship marketing agency, today announced the promotion of Larry Blum to Vice President of Business Development in Merkle's Heathcare and Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) practices. Blum will focus on leading Merkle's activities in both markets and continuing to grow Merkle's diverse roster of clients to whom the company provides best-in-class, end-to-end marketing strategy.

Blum has more than 25 years of business development and direct marketing experiences in the CPG and healthcare industries. He most recently led the new business expansion at Merkle's Healthcare Practice; partnering with many of the top 15 global healthcare and CPG clients and assisting them in their customer centric strategic marketing efforts inclusive of digital, database development coupled with analytical and creative services.

Priot to joining Merkle, Blum served as Managing Partner at Vertical Consulting, where he provided strategic consulting for in-office solutions and social engagement measurement for pharmaceutical firms. Additionally, he was Senior Vice President of Business Development at Catalina Health Resources, a leading patient communications network, where he was responsible for all U.S. revenue and assisted both pharmaceutical and CPG brand managers. Blum has held key marketing and sales management positions at Nestle, H.J. Heinz, The Coca-Cola Company and GlaxoSmithKline.

"Joining Merkle has been a great experience for me. I've seen how our capabilities have provided real value to our clients through our 360 degree view of their customers and by quantifying our marketing results analytically," said Blum. "I look forward to continuing my work with our healthcare clients and expanding my responsibilities into CPG."

Blum's promotion continues Merkle's ongoing commitment to expanding its presence in the healthcare and CPG verticals.