Merle Bennett

Merle Bennett – Marketer

Multi Award-Winning Brand and Marketing Leader with over 13 years of dynamic expertise within the gaming and publishing industries.

Overview

I’m passionate about unlocking brand potential and driving sales through innovative, data-driven strategies. What sets me apart is my ability to dive deep into consumer behaviour, creating captivating content while leveraging insights to optimise campaigns and cultivate lasting customer loyalty.


Over the years I have worked on some of the biggest fiction and non fiction authors in the world. I have brand managed James Patterson and Jamie Oliver and most recently one of the biggest game releases of 2024, FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH.


I am driven by helping authors breakthrough in the industry and lean on my extensive experience to help make that happen. Let's connect and help get your book to the top of the Bestseller charts.


Services
Fiction
Action & Adventure Contemporary Fiction Historical Fiction Literary Fiction Mystery & Crime Thriller & Suspense
Non-Fiction
Biographies & Memoirs Cooking, Food, Wine, & Spirits
Awards
  • Book of the Year 2018
  • BMS Shoestring Campaign winner 2016
  • BMS Shoestring Campaign Winner 2015

Work experience

Self-employed

Aug, 2024 — Present

With 13+ years of dynamic expertise in brand marketing within the gaming and publishing industries, I’m passionate about unlocking audience insights, expanding brand potential and driving sales through innovative, data-driven strategies.

I am here to help dive deep into consumer behaviour and craft captivating content, leverage insights to optimise your campaigns (especially on platforms like Amazon) and build lasting customer loyalty. I thrive in turning ambiguity into opportunity.

Square Enix Ltd

Aug, 2023 — Jul, 2024 (almost 1 year)

At Square Enix, I honed my expertise in digital and content marketing alongside publishing strategy. I played a key role in launching high-profile AAA titles, such as the acclaimed FINAL FANTASY VII REBIRTH, by developing innovative marketing strategies that resonate with the gaming community and elevate brand engagement.

This role required constant collaboration, refining my ability to work with cross-functional teams to optimize publishing tactics and enhance brand visibility. Leveraging consumer insights and data analysis, I crafted targeted campaigns that foster meaningful player interactions and solidify market presence.

Penguin Rndom House UK

Oct, 2017 — Jun, 2022 (over 4 years)

Optimised global sales and marketing for James Patterson, one of the world's top-selling authors with over 450 million copies sold worldwide. Led a cross-functional team, driving a cohesive brand message that boosted global sales by 18% YOY, totaling 3.7 million copies in 2021. Revamped the email marketing strategy, using automation and CRM to expand reach, nurture leads, and enhance customer retention.

Spearheaded a testing roadmap with A/B testing, KPIs, and ROI analysis to optimise brand channels. Managed the annual marketing budget, forecasting, and P&L review in the UK. Leveraged social media listening tools to maximize consumer sentiment and tap into influencer leads, increasing UK brand awareness from 42% to 70% (2017-2022).

Penguin Random House UK

Oct, 2016 — Oct, 2017 (about 1 year)

Brand Managed and executed the multi-award-winning campaign for Jamie Oliver's 5 Ingredients: Quick and Easy Food, driving sales of over 3.3 million copies across 24 territories in just one year. Orchestrated a groundbreaking approach by inviting top UK design agencies to pitch for the campaign, ultimately partnering with Kota to bring the book and campaign to life.

Simon and Schuster

Dec, 2015 — Oct, 2016 (11 months)

Worked across a wide range of fiction and non-fiction campaigns Including; Joey Barton's autobiography No Nonsense; Girl Up by Laura Bates (for which I won a marketing award); Lynda La Plante and Milly Johnson.

Penguin Random House UK

Nov, 2011 — Dec, 2015 (about 4 years)

Held various roles within PRH, in Michael Joseph and Ebury.

Taschen

Nov, 2010 — Nov, 2011 (11 months)

Projects

Jamie Oliver

-Brand Managed and executed the multi-award-winning campaign for Jamie Oliver's 5 Ingredients: Quick and Easy Food,
-Driving sales of over 3.3 million copies across 24 territories in just one year.
-Orchestrated a groundbreaking approach by inviting top UK design agencies to pitch for the campaign, ultimately partnering with Kota to bring the book and campaign to life.

James Patterson and Dolly Parton

-Adopted a full funnel marketing approach to all James patterson's campaigns and brand planning.
-Biggest Hardback release of 2022, reaching Sunday Times Number 1 spot.
-Multi media and multi platform execution including OOH, LINEAR TV, VOD, DIGITAL, SOCIAL AND PODCAST ADVERTISING.
-Worked hand in hand with Dolly Parton's record label to coordinate and dedicated album release to coincide with the book launch.
-Digital advertising alone reached over 10 million people in the UK alone.

James Patterson

-Adopted a full funnel marketing approach to all James patterson's campaigns and brand planning.
-Complete re-brand of the WMC series which led to +35% YOY growth in 2018, +38% in 2019. +34% in 2020.
-Multi media and multi platform execution including: OOH (impacts 15,357,730), LINEAR TV, VOD, DIGITAL, SOCIAL AND PODCAST ADVERTISING.

James Patterson and Bill Clinton

-Paperback launch for The President is Missing.
-Sunday times Number 1 bestseller for 5 weeks.
-Multi media and multi platform execution including: OOH, LINEAR TV, VOD, -DIGITAL, SOCIAL AND PODCAST driving over 250k+ sales.

Portfolio

18th Abduction

James Patterson

Random House

'Smart characters, shocking twists' Lisa Gardner'I couldn't turn the pages quick enough' Heidi Perks'Terrific, high-octane, really pacy' Jo Spain'A compelling read with great set pieces and, m... read more
Marketing Strategy Email Marketing Advertising
5 Ingredients - Quick & Easy Food

Jamie Oliver

Penguin UK

Discover how easy it is to cook a delicious, healthy meal with just FIVE simple ingredients. Let Jamie Oliver show you how . . .INCLUDES ALL THE RECIPES AND MORE FROM JAMIE'S CHANNEL 4 SERIES ... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising
Run Rose Run

Dolly Parton

Cornerstone

Readers say 'Run to read this!'The global number one bestseller, set to become a hit movie produced by Reese Witherspoon and starring Dolly Parton. __________________________'A GRIPPING AND HE... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising
Wars of the Roses

Conn Iggulden

Penguin UK

'Iggulden is in a class of his own when it comes to epic historical fiction' Daily MirrorConn Iggulden's Wars of the Roses Ebook Bundle contain the following:TrinityStormbirdBloodlineRavenspur
Marketing Strategy Advertising
Gok Cooks Chinese

Gok Wan

Penguin UK

Discover the master guide to simple, healthy and delicious Chinese cooking from the creator of the hit show Gok Wan's Easy AsianFor Gok, Chinese food is all about sitting down, tucking into fa... read more
Marketing Strategy
My Story

Tom Daley

Penguin UK

DIVE INTO THE REMARKABLE FIRST OFFICIAL MEMOIR OF OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALLIST TOM DALEY AND DISCOVER WHERE IT ALL BEGAN'I laughed, I cried, I loved it! Probably the most inspirational book I have e... read more
Marketing Strategy
Love Sick

Jessie Cave

Ebury Publishing

You might go a bit crazy but you are not alone. Let Jessie Cave's Love Sick be your love survival guide.As mentioned by Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes on The High Low. Love Sick collects tog... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising
Mary Berry's Absolute Favourites

Mary Berry

Random House

In this official tie-in to Mary's gorgeous new six-part BBC Two TV series, Mary reveals the secrets of her very favourite food. Featuring all the foolproof recipes from the show, Mary introduc... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising
'The maddest 12 months of my life. The journey starts with an oddball race up an American mountain and ends with me checking myself out of hospital with a broken back. Again ...'As Guy’s Latvi... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising
Guy Martin: My Autobiography

Guy Martin

Random House

The Phenomenal Sunday Times No1 Bestseller‘It was the start of the third lap of the 2010 Senior TT, the last race of the fortnight. The last chance to get a TT win for another year, and I was ... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising
No Nonsense

Joey Barton

Simon & Schuster UK

THE CROSS SPORTS BOOK AWARDS AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR The Sunday Times bestseller is 'brilliant, gripping, beautifully written, real,' says Jonathan Northcroft. So, you think you know Joey Ba... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising
Fear No Evil

James Patterson

Random House

SOON TO BE AN ORIGINAL AMAZON PRIME SERIES___________________________________'Alex Cross is a legend' Harlan Coben'No one gets this big without amazing natural storytelling talent - which is w... read more
Marketing Strategy Email Marketing Advertising
21st Birthday

James Patterson

Random House

'Smart characters, shocking twists' Lisa Gardner'I couldn't turn the pages quick enough' Heidi Perks'Terrific, high-octane, really pacy' Jo Spain'A compelling read with great set pieces and, m... read more
Marketing Strategy Email Marketing Advertising
20th Victim

James Patterson

Random House

'Smart characters, shocking twists' Lisa Gardner'I couldn't turn the pages quick enough' Heidi Perks'Terrific, high-octane, really pacy' Jo Spain'A compelling read with great set pieces and, m... read more
Marketing Strategy Email Marketing Advertising
19th Christmas

James Patterson

Random House

'Smart characters, shocking twists' Lisa Gardner'I couldn't turn the pages quick enough' Heidi Perks'Terrific, high-octane, really pacy' Jo Spain'A compelling read with great set pieces and, m... read more
Marketing Strategy Email Marketing Advertising
The President’s Daughter

President Bill Clinton

Random House

'James Patterson and Bill Clinton are the dream team' Lee Child'Propulsive, exhilarating, and unnervingly believable' Karin Slaughter'Superb thriller, expertly told... More please' Piers Morga... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising
The President is Missing

President Bill Clinton

Random House

'The political thriller of the decade' Lee Child'A bullet train of a thriller' A.J. Finn'A first-rate collaboration... Engrossing from page one' David Baldacci'This book moves like Air Force O... read more
Marketing Strategy Advertising

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