Catherine Merritt

Catherine Merritt is the founder and chief executive officer at Spool.
Catherine founded Spool with the belief that the world most definitely didn’t need another agency (in fact, we could do with a few less!) but it could use a new type of agency, which is what she set out to do with Spool.
If you asked Catherine about Spool within the first year of its existence, she would probably throw some imposter-syndrome shade your way, but as Spool has grown beyond its infancy, her insecurities have subsided and we’re just glad she got that out of the way sooner than later! Catherine remains involved in all clients at Spool, investing her time (that’s right, the only CEO whose bill rate is $0) so she is able to remain actively engaged in all clients’ strategies while running the agency and its growing investment arm.
Catherine brings a fearlessness and empathetic lens to everything she is part of and expects as much from her team and Spool’s clients alike.
Catherine’s career runs the gamut from event management for Antiques Roadshow to constituent services for local government offices to being shampoo girl at Mary Sue’s Hair Design from the time she was in eight grade through high school.
She has a B.A.
in Creative Writing from Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, New York.
When she’s not focused on Spool, Catherine is usually on the sidelines at either her sons' baseball games, going to see live music or hosting a fun dinner or cocktail party! Catherine, Ian and their boys, Teddy and Archie, live outside Chicago in Evanston.
If given the opportunity, Catherine would love to see Queen at Liveaid, ca.
1985 with her hero, Michelle Obama enjoying some lobster rolls flown in fresh from Martha’s Vineyard!