COLUMBIA, Md. – Merkle (merkleinc.com), a leading technology-enabled, data-driven performance marketing agency, announced that Angelina Eng, vice president, media platforms and operations, and Kelly Leger, vice president, Publisher Addressable Marketplaces, have both been named winners of the inaugural Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) Data Rockstar Awards. The winners were announced at the IAB Ad Operations Summit in New York City.
“I am committed to helping brands improve their digital advertising results through creative and innovative applications of data and technology”
The awards celebrate top industry leaders and practitioners who have demonstrated achievement in data science or technology. Eng and Leger were among five winners, chosen from a prestigious group of finalists who were selected by the IAB Data Center of Excellence Board of Directors, based on excellence, creativity, or forward-thinking approaches to solving problems in data science, as well as the impact their contributions have made to their company or industry.
Eng is responsible for defining, building, and managing the digital media platforms solutions group. She leads the development of internal systems and workflow, establishment of deliverable standards, creation of ad trafficking and tracking guidelines, implementation of emerging platforms, as well as media optimization best practices. Prior to Merkle, she served as vice president of Digital Operations for Dentsu Aegis Network, of which Merkle is now a part. She is an active member of IAB, serving on its Certification Committee, Ad Ops & Technology Committee, Data Council Committee, and Programmatic Committee.
“It is an honor to be named one of the first-ever IAB Data Rockstars,” said Eng. “The digital advertising landscape is changing at such a rapid pace, we all have to be at the top of our game, just to keep up. To be recognized as a leader in the space, among the amazing talent I have seen in the marketplace is truly humbling. And it shouldn’t go unnoticed that two Merkle women have earned this award, demonstrating Merkle’s commitment to developing women within the data and technology spaces.”
Leger leads Merkle’s initiative to advance publisher and client adoption of Publisher Addressable Marketplaces (PAM), Merkle’s proprietary programmatic solution, which allows advertisers to target real people by matching their own CRM data with subscriber data from premium publishers, such as Pandora, Trusted Media Brands, Viant, Reader’s Digest, News Corp and LiveIntent. Leger has extensive experience in data solutions, analytics, strategic partnerships, and sales. She joined Merkle from V12 Group, where she serviced as senior vice president and general manager of digital solutions. She began her career as director of data partnerships and business development with Datalogix.
“I am committed to helping brands improve their digital advertising results through creative and innovative applications of data and technology,” Leger commented. “With the Data Rockstar Awards, IAB is helping to keep data and its role in programmatic at the forefront of marketing, and I’m thrilled to have been chosen for its inaugural honors.”
David Williams, president and CEO of Merkle, added, “I couldn’t be more proud of Angelina and Kelly. Both of these remarkable women have proved instrumental in Merkle’s continued advancement in people-based marketing solutions that are driven by data, analytics, and technology. I’m delighted to see their hard work being recognized among digital advertising industry leaders.”
About Merkle
Merkle is a leading data-driven, technology-enabled, global performance marketing agency that specializes in the delivery of unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 25 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The agency’s heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights that drive people-based marketing strategies. When combined with its strength in performance media, Merkle creates customer experiences that drive improved marketing results and shareholder value. With more than 3,700 employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland with 16 additional offices in the US and offices in Barcelona, London, Shanghai, and Nanjing. In 2016, the agency joined the Dentsu Aegis Network. For more information, contact Merkle at 1-877-9-Merkle or visit www.merkleinc.com
