NPD Group Promotes for Top US Apparel Role

Retail data firm The NPD Group has promoted Susan Merrill to the role of President of its US Apparel practice. She succeeds John Deputato, who is retiring this month.

Merrill has more than 25 years of experience in market research, consumer insights, and client and business development. She joined NPD in 2005, when the company acquired fashion specialist STS Market Research, where she had worked for more than twelve years, managing the syndicated panel business. Most recently, she was NPD's VP, responsible for business and client development, and working directly with national apparel manufacturers.

In her new role, Merrill will oversee NPD's portfolio of apparel services and product offerings; replacing Deputato, who joined NPD a decade ago from SymphonyIRI. Joanne Sackett, President of NPD's Softlines Sector, comments: 'Susan has the leadership, business acumen, and strong knowledge of the apparel industry that is necessary to propel our business strategy forward. Her commercial skills paired with a solid track record for building strategic relationships will allow us to partner with clients in new and different ways, and identify additional opportunities to navigate them to success.'

Web site: www.npdgroup.com .