(Chicago, IL, June 4, 2021) -- MERGE, a premium storytelling technology company, announced today it has been named one of the Top U.S. Agencies in Ad Age’s Agency Report 2021. The company placed No. 18 among the top 25 Largest U.S. Health Care Agency Networks and No. 98 on the Largest U.S. Agencies from All Disciplines list, which ranks the top 250 advertising, marketing, and communications agencies nationwide. This year's performance also places MERGE among the nation's 10 largest independent agencies.
The annual ranking program evaluates the U.S. and worldwide revenues of more than 500 agencies, networks and companies. MERGE broke into the Top 100 in Ad Age’s 2020 rankings, becoming one of the fastest growing agencies named on the Annual Agency Report after experiencing nearly 50 percent growth.
In February 2020, MERGE completed its largest acquisition to date and successfully integrated Sandbox into its operations, brand and culture. The deal effectively doubled the agency's size in terms of both revenue and people just weeks before the pandemic necessitated a companywide work-from-home protocol.
“Though most on the newly combined team didn't get to meet in person before quarantine, MERGE came together and adeptly navigated the transition into a single agency—at distance and without significant issue. In many ways, the remote environment made it easier to bridge markets and mobilize talent for clients who, facing business unknowns and uncertainty, needed access to the agency's newly expanded services and extended resource capacity,” said Patrick Venetucci, Chief Executive Officer. “In all, the pressure test of 2020 demonstrated MERGE's unshakeable commitment to our clients and corporate values: Agility, Ability and Humility. Coming out of the pandemic, we're stronger than ever with rapid growth across all of our practice areas, service lines and geographies.”
The agency has expanded its senior leadership team with several additions over the past year, including its first-ever chief digital officer, Saurab Bhargava, and new chief client officer, Nick Jones. Other leadership moves include Jean May, President, MERGE West; Candace Graham, SVP, Group Business Development Leader; Rob Powers, EVP, Financial Services Practice; Mark Wollney, SVP, Group Operations Leader; and Michelle Riley, SVP, Public Relations Leader.
Advertising Age has published the Ad Age Agency Report every year since 1945. The 2021 Report can be found here.
About MERGE
MERGE promotes health, wealth and happiness in the world by merging storytelling with technology and offers marketing and technology clients full-service capabilities including strategy, creative communications, experience engineering, media, digital platform development and more. MERGE has enduring client partnerships with American Express, T-Mobile, LG, Fidelity, Eaton Vance, BlueCross BlueShield, Abbott, Takeda, Boston Scientific, Advocate Aurora Health, Brigham Health, Indiana University Health and Marco’s Pizza. With 550+ employees across offices in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Kansas City, New York City and Orange County. MERGE uses a talent-to-task process that enables clients to think higher and feel deeper about their customers. For more information, visit mergeworld.com.