Merkle (www.merkle.com), a leading technology-enabled, data-driven customer relationship marketing (CRM) firm and the nation’s largest privately held agency, announced the appointment of Rob DiCesare to vice president of analytics, financial services. DiCesare will play a leadership role in Merkle’s financial services analytics practice, delivering intelligence-driven marketing solutions and enabling the agency’s banking clients to grow effectively.

"Not only is Merkle distinguished as an industry leader, but as a leader in analytics specifically," said DiCesare. "Analytics is intertwined in everything that Merkle does and I’m excited to collaborate with an impressive team to strengthen the digital and data services Merkle offers its clients."

DiCesare brings to Merkle 17 years of expertise in marketing analytics and business acumen. He joins Merkle from Acxiom, where he led the company’s analytics and strategy consulting practice as vice president of analytics, helping to increase profitability for a number of the world’s largest banks. Prior to Acxiom, DiCesare founded and led Quinetix, an innovator in data driven marketing and analytics with a focus on customer retention and engagement. Over an eight-year period DiCesare helped grow tens of millions of dollars of profit for clients through customer-driven organic growth.

"Rob’s knowledge and experience with analytics in financial services will be a great addition to our financial services team," said Ed Forman, senior vice president. "Analytics is at the core of connected CRM, and under Rob’s leadership and entrepreneurial style, Merkle will continue to grow analytics in financial services and create an even stronger competitive edge for our clients."