Merkle Named CFO at Dunnhumby USA
DunnhumbyUSA has named Brian Merkle as its chief financial officer to assume management of finance, accounting and treasury functions for the company, and guide its strategic growth into new markets.
Previously VP of finance, Merkle (pictured at left) succeeds longtime DunnhumbyUSA CFO Michael Whelan, who has left the company to become head of finance at Crossroads Church.
“Since joining Dunnhumby, Brian Merkle has played an instrumental role in building our finance and accounting teams and establishing best practices during a period of tremendous growth,” said Stuart Aitken, DunnhumbyUSA CEO. “His strong financial background, his proven ability to innovate and his passionate commitment to realize a customer-first model for our clients and our own business make him the ideal candidate to lead DunnhumbyUSA into our next phase of growth.”
With DunnhumbyUSA since 2008, Merkle brings more than 12 years of accounting and financial experience to his new leadership role. Merkle served as the financial representative on Dunnhumby’s joint venture partnership with The Kroger Co., working directly with Kroger on financial and operational matters. He worked extensively with Dunnhumby’s commercial teams on the implementation of new solutions and products and was responsible for maintaining the company’s financial and tax relationships.
Merkle began his career in public accounting as an auditor for PricewaterhouseCoopers in the retail, technology, manufacturing and financial verticals. He spent six years at Fifth Third Bank within accounting and residential mortgage finance.
Founded in 2003 as a joint venture between London-based Dunnhumby Ltd. and The Kroger Co., DunnhumbyUSA has become an international leader in building sales and brand value for consumer goods and retail companies. Employing more than 2,000 people in 33 offices in Europe, Asia and the Americas, Dunnhumby serves a client list that includes Kroger, Tesco, Coca-Cola, General Mills, Kimberly-Clark, Macy’s, PepsiCo and Procter & Gamble.