MERGE Growth Trajectory Accelerates with Appointment of Former Meta Content Leader Cait Vlastakis Smith to Head Creative Strategy

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MERGE, a leading marketing and technology agency, is pleased to welcome Cait Vlastakis Smith as Executive Vice President of Creative Strategy. Cait joins MERGE from Meta, where she led content and UX teams building growth, and privacy and safety features for Facebook, Messenger and Instagram. Her expertise includes data-driven content strategy, design systems, and scaling experiences for global audiences in regulated markets.

“In the age of AI, we need to elevate creative and content capabilities across all mediums, from print to digital to physical, integrating data and technology,” said Stephanie Trunzo, CEO of MERGE. "Cait's uniquely exuberant drive for efficient design and accurate, ethical content will catalyze our ability to create evocative, personalized, consumer-grade experiences at scale.”

As Executive Vice President of Creative Strategy, Cait will drive proven leadership in digital strategy, creative storytelling, and experience design across technology and healthcare brands.

Prior to Meta, Cait led brand strategy efforts for emerging SaaS, open source, and technology clients at the brand agency New Kind. She also served as Executive Strategy Director at Centerline Digital, where she led creative strategy, global website redesigns, and content marketing campaigns for clients such as IBM, First Citizens Bank, Red Hat, GE, Quintiles (now IQVIA), and Duke Clinical Research Institute. At the technology company Globant, she led the digital strategy practice, partnering with insurance and healthcare clients to transform customer journeys through service design.

Cait also worked at Campbell Alliance (InVentiv Health), a pharmaceutical and biotech consulting firm, building repeatable methodologies, playbooks, and tools for managed markets, sales, and clinical development teams.

Reflecting on her appointment, Cait shared, "I'm excited to partner with our talented MERGE teams and help our clients showcase their unique value through thoughtfully designed touchpoints, breakthrough creative that’s connected to business outcomes, and strategic storytelling that strengthens relationships between people and brands.”

Cait’s appointment follows several new executive announcements at MERGE this year, including Heidi West (Chief Revenue Officer), John Bracey (Chief Data and Performance Officer), Erica Denner (Chief People Officer), Kyle Smith (Chief Technology Officer), Paul Buranosky (Chief Marketing Officer), and Chris Esposito (Chief Financial Officer).

About MERGE

MERGE is a marketing and technology agency built for the intersection of health and wellness. Powered by human insight, creativity, and AI, MERGE weaves storytelling through technology to turn complexity into clarity and shape personalized experiences that strengthen relationships between people and brands.

With 750+ specialists across Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Kansas City, Los Angeles, New York, and Raleigh, MERGE partners with leading brands like Abbott, GE Healthcare, American Express, T-Mobile, and Coach to advance health, wellness, and happiness.