Marriner Marketing Welcomes New Partner and Creates Dynamic Executive Team to Benefit Customers, Integrated Campaign Performance and Agency Growth

Merkert Remains CEO; Levine to Serve as President; Gunther as EVP of Operations; and Melnick Becomes New Partner and EVP of Brand IntegrationMarriner Marketing Communications, a leading branding and activation agency in the food, beverage and hospitality industries, creates a new executive team and adds a new Managing Partner to ensure business continuity and ongoing growth:

• Tighe Merkert, the majority owner of the agency, will remain the Chief Executive Officer and stay involved in all significant business decisions to advance the growth of the firm. The Partners’ accountabilities will be expanded to handle more of the day-to-day management and innovation for the company.
• Rob Levine, a Managing Partner, has been appointed the new President and will help set the future vision for Marriner. Levine will also oversee the Client Services and Media & Performance teams to support customers’ goals as well as the agency’s strategic and results-focused approach. He will continue to guide all Planning & Insights initiatives and to champion the voice of the target for our customers. Levine joined Marriner in 2003 and became a Partner in 2013.
• Susan Gunther, a Managing Partner, has been promoted to Executive Vice President of Operations. She will be responsible for optimizing the agency’s processes and systems to achieve an array of tangible products and services to benefit Marriner’s future innovation and customers’ needs. She will oversee Production and Resource Management for the agency and integrate with Human Resources to recruit, develop and build strong teams throughout the organization. Gunther has been with Marriner since 2004 and became a Partner in 2013.
• David Melnick becomes a new owner and Managing Partner. He will take on the role of Executive Vice President of Brand Integration. Since joining Marriner in 2016, Melnick’s business development efforts have resulted in new customer wins with Nestlé Professional, National Pork Board, Kent Corporation and Maryland Office of Tourism. In his new position, Melnick will oversee the Creative and Digital teams to support Marriner’s commitment to developing best-in-class integrated marketing campaigns, while continuing to spearhead all business expansion efforts for the firm.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved over the past 32 years. Our reputation as a national agency with an enviable expertise in food, beverage and hospitality is very rewarding. Transitioning the company to proven, senior leaders I know and trust will put Marriner in a position to expand beyond our current success,” said Merkert, Marriner’s CEO. “Rob and Susan have been fantastic Partners in helping drive the business forward over the years. With David coming on as a Partner, the timing is right for me to take a step back yet continue to provide the support and continuity that best positions Marriner for the future.”

Levine, Marriner’s new President, adds, “Tighe has shown us the pathway to success by serving as our mentor and reinforcing the importance of doing everything with a generosity of spirit. It’s an honor to take on this leadership role. This year feels like we are in a liminal space that holds great potential for brand marketers. We have the power to help people make decisions in accordance with their values. Fortunately, we have a talented cross-functional team who are curious and always ready to persevere. The future looks very bright.”

ABOUT MARRINER
As a branding and activation agency, Marriner Marketing Communications has been a leader in providing integrated solutions for the food, beverage and hospitality industries for more than 30 years. Their national and international customers count on Marriner for effective, Clarity-driven communications to address a wide variety of business opportunities and champion the voice of the target. Marriner’s customers include such notable brands as AFP, Atlas Metal, Butterball, Campbell’s, Kent Corporation, Maryland Office of Tourism, Nestlé Professional and Perdue Farms. Visit marriner.com or marriner.com/work to explore Marriner’s portfolio.

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