MERGE, a premium storytelling technology company, today announced that Saurab Bhargava joined the agency’s executive leadership team as its first-ever chief digital officer. Bhargava will lead the agency’s digital transformation business through vision, strategy, service delivery and talent acquisition. Bhargava will be based in Chicago.
“Saurab will elevate the MERGE digital offering and further help us catapult clients to the top of their categories by providing transformational solutions within an integrated marketing-technology model that blends science with soul,” said Patrick Venetucci, chief executive officer of MERGE. “His extensive experience building world-class teams and driving profound results will help MERGE continue on its growth trajectory and make a meaningful difference in the human experience by promoting health, wealth and happiness to the world.”
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Bhargava brings more than 20 years of experience counseling the C-suite for global brands. During his career, he has guided companies to position digital efforts to have a dramatic impact on business, align cross-organizational leadership, and lead teams through execution and transformation across platforms, processes and culture. With a career focused on digital, marketing and technology, Bhargava has led complex digital transformations for organizations including Enterprise Rent-A-Car, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Tivity Health, BCBS Michigan, Fidelity, Hilton, Heidrick & Struggles, Avis, Aon, the United States Air Force and the City of Chicago.
“I believe that digital products and experiences can have the ability to transform brands, and I thrive on bringing strategies to life,” said Bhargava. “MERGE is poised to be the agency partner of choice for organizations seeking a sound strategy about building the tools and platforms they will need to deliver transformative solutions. I am eager to be part of the team at MERGE that will deliver a modern marketing model through collaborative talent and innovative tools.”
MERGE is creating a modern, integrated agency model that effectively blends creative, technology and media solutions at scale. In February 2020, it united with the Sandbox Agency to create one of the largest independent agencies in North America. The combined agency employs more than 550 staff across seven North American locations. MERGE offers capabilities that include strategy, experience-engineering, creative-communications, media and technology platform development.