Chris Freeland in

Chris Freeland

Trailblazer · DISC type ID
Chief Executive Officer at Merkle
📍 London, England, United Kingdom

Chris Freeland is the UK & Ireland CEO for Merkle, Dentsus CXM Practice. An alumnus of Omnicom University and Hult Ashridge, he is an acclaimed agency leader known for balancing commercial acumen with a people-first approach. Colleagues describe him as an authentic, kind, and compelling leader with an exceptional heart.

He is a passionate advocate for developing talent and fostering inclusive cultures. Chris actively contributes to the wider marketing industry as a Fellow of The Marketing Society, where he has served as a mentor, and as a judge for industry awards like the DMAs.

Unique fact: Chris was recognized as one of the 50 Leading Lights in Kindness for his impactful and compassionate leadership style.

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Experience
16 Years
Current Role
Chief Executive Officer
Job Level
Leadership
Location
London, England, United Kingdom
Personality Overview

How Chris shows up

Achievement-Oriented
Charismatic
Values Relationships

They are charming and can persuade others to support their decisions. They prefer to ensure that they are in control of the situation. They are more likely to accept new and exciting technologies.

Priorities

Topics Chris cares about

Customer Experience (CXM)
As the CEO of Merkle, dentsu's Customer Experience Management (CXM) practice, this is the core focus of his professional role.
Kindness in Leadership
He was named on the 'Kindness & Leadership' list, reflecting his belief that compassion is a critical component of successful business outcomes.
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Career

Work history

7-2025
Chief Executive Officer
Merkle
12-2022
Fellow of The Marketing Society
The Marketing Society
7-2024 - 7-2025
Executive Chair (former) EMEA & APAC RAPP
RAPP UK
5-2020 - 7-2024
Executive Chair, EMEA & APAC
RAPP
12-2015 - 5-2020
CEO, UK
RAPP
In the press

Media appearances

Dentsu hires Chris Freeland to replace Merkle CEO. Featured in Campaign Live
See now
Daily Research News Online no. 38397 - New UKI CEO for Merkle. Featured in MRWeb (Daily Research News Online)
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Education
6-2017 - 6-2023
Omnicom Senior Management Programme
Omnicom University, Babson College
2010 - 2011
Organizational Leadership
Hult Ashridge Executive Education
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

I

Influence (I)

Influence (I) reflects the degree to which a person prefers to work by influencing or persuading others. Those scoring high tend to be people oriented, motivated by social recognition and building relationships.

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