Merkle (www.merkle.com), a leading customer relationship marketing (CRM) firm and the nation’s largest privately held agency, today announced that GMAC Insurance has re-signed with Merkle for a new three-year contract extension. GMAC Insurance, one of the largest automobile insurers in the country, began its full-service engagement with Merkle in 2008. The long-term relationship exemplifies Merkle’s focus on providing its clients with world-class marketing services that maximize the value of their customer portfolios.

Merkle’s relationship with GMAC Insurance entails managing the company’s connected CRM database as well as providing them with analytics support, modeling and reporting services. Merkle is also supplying creative services, production (email and print) management and digital media services that include both search marketing and targeted display. Additionally, GMAC Insurance looks to Merkle as a strategic partner for its marketing and campaign management.

The integrated approach of Merkle’s consulting, data, analytics, technology, creative and digital media teams has allowed for the merging of valuable cross-channel consumer data which provides for highly tailored messaging and marketing tactics for GMAC Insurance. In the past year, Merkle has helped GMAC Insurance to decrease its marketing cost per application (CPA) by 34% while increasing the overall policy sales by 6%. GMAC Insurance experienced growth in their key account sales which have increased 20% since 2011 and 54% since 2009. Merkle hopes to continue this success with GMAC Insurance in the coming years.

“Merkle is a strategic partner and a true extension of our internal marketing team. Their deep expertise and strong reputation in the insurance industry is a benefit to our team. We have developed a strong partnership over the past few years and I look forward to our continued success over the next three years,” said Benjamin Moore, Vice President, GMAC Insurance.

“Merkle’s relationship with GMAC Insurance has grown into a genuine marketing partnership,” said John Lee, SVP, client advisory group. “We are proud to have earned the trust of such an iconic insurance brand over the past 5 years, as evidenced by the extension of our relationship through 2015. Working together, we will continue to build customer-centric marketing strategies that deliver results and bring value to GMAC Insurance and its customers.”