Global CEO Michael Komasinski Appointed by Merkle as Craig Dempster Announces Retirement
In a significant move, Dentsu International has announced the appointment of Michael Komasinski as the Global CEO of Merkle, one of its six leadership brands and a key player in people-based customer experience. This change in leadership aligns with Dentsu's ambition to become the most integrated agency network in the world.
Michael Komasinski, a seasoned business executive, was previously the President of Merkle/CXM, Americas, and the leader of dentsu's Customer Experience Management (CXM) service line in the Americas. He has also served as CEO of Criteo earlier in 2025, indicating his extensive experience with global commerce media and digital advertising technologies, which aligns with Merkle’s and Dentsu’s focus areas.
Komasinski's new role places him at the helm of Merkle globally during a critical period as Dentsu advances its ambition. He succeeds Craig Dempster, the former Global CEO of Merkle, who announced his retirement at the end of 2025. Dempster spent 15 years with Merkle and four years with Dentsu International following its acquisition of Merkle.
Merkle, with its 12,000 employees distributed across more than 50 offices in the Americas, EMA, and APAC, is a key growth engine in people-based customer experience. Notably, the company has recently strategic expansions like the acquisition of LiveArea to bolster its global experience and commerce capabilities.
The integration of solutions is a key part of Dentsu's strategy to become the most integrated agency network. Wendy Clark, the current global CEO of Dentsu, has expressed a collective ambition for Dentsu to deliver integrated solutions across creative, media, and CXM (Customer Experience Management) to drive growth for clients. The integrated solutions are expected to be implemented across Dentsu's six brands, including Merkle.
Clark's statement emphasizes that the integrated solutions will be designed to benefit clients, aiming at enhancing growth for Dentsu's clients across various sectors. The goal is to provide integrated solutions that drive growth for clients across various sectors such as creative, media, and CXM.
Michael Komasinski will serve as a member of the Dentsu International executive team, effective Jan. 1, 2022, and will report to Wendy Clark in his new role. This appointment marks a significant step forward in Dentsu's integration strategy, with Komasinski leading one of Dentsu's six brands and guiding Merkle’s global operations and strategic growth.
This change in leadership at Merkle further solidifies Dentsu's commitment to its integrated solutions strategy, aiming to provide comprehensive, data-driven, tech-enabled, and ideas-led solutions to its clients.
- Michael Komasinski, now at the helm of Merkle globally, will lead the brand's operations and strategic growth, furthering Dentsu's commitment to integrating solutions for comprehensive, data-driven, tech-enabled, and ideas-led services for clients.
- Aligning with Dentsu's ambition to become the most integrated agency network, Komasinski's extensive experience with global commerce media and digital advertising technologies will propel the financial growth of both Merkle and Dentsu, driving growth for clients across creative, media, and CXM sectors.
