2016 Seatrade Cruise Global

Marcie Merriman
Executive Director, Growth Strategy and Innovation
Ernst & Young LLP


Employing equal part business strategy, cultural anthropology and creative leadership, Marcie has established a 25 year track record of working with senior executives to propel the innovation of brands, categories and businesses. Prior to joining EY, Marcie was President and CEO of PrimalGrowth, a consumer strategy and experience design firm she founded and which was acquired by EY. Prior to this Marcie was a partner at Big Red Rooster, a global retail strategy and design firm; an executive at L Brands’ Victoria’s Secret, serving as Director of Brand Strategy and Business Planning; and held various leadership roles in management consulting. While Marcie has broad experience in brand and retail strategy, her passion lies in working with merchants, marketing executives and sales organizations to find the best solutions to connect their product and service offer with consumers to enable business innovation and growth. Currently, Marcie is especially focused on leveraging her experience and intimate knowledge of Millennials and Gen Z to help clients differentiate their businesses and tap into growth opportunities with these complex and ever-changing generations. Marcie is a sought-after speaker and a frequent contributor to business and trade publications including Wall Street Journal, Women’s Wear Daily, Business Week, Business Insider, Business of Fashion and Forbes. She is also credited with driving research and insight for the best-selling book The Myth of Excellence, which details consumer motivation and corporate strategic response. Marcie holds an Executive MBA from Case Western Reserve University’s Weatherhead School of Management, with a focus on marketing strategy. She earned a BA in Social Sciences from Michigan State University, where she focused her studies on anthropology and sociology. These disciplines have proved invaluable in her international work as a consumer ethnographer and cultural anthropologist.

Sessions :