Merkley Lands $10 Mil. Health Net Account

NEW YORK–Health Net of the Northeast has selected Merkley Newman Harty & Partners to handle its estimated $10 million account, sources said.

Merkley bested three other New York shops to land the business: McCann-Erickson, DeVito/Verdi and Catalyst, said sources. Previously, the account was in house.
The assignment includes creative duties, media duties and some below-the-line tasks.

Merkley referred calls to the Shelton, Conn. client, which could not immediately be reached.

Health Net initially approached 10-12 shops [Adweek, June 3], each of which presented strategic and creative ideas in early June. Based on those presentations, the client cut to the four finalists, who subsequently met again with client executives, said sources.