Seeking to provide catalogers with better access to the organization, the Direct Marketing Association has created a new role -- VP catalog and multichannel merchant segment. Filling the new position will be Neil C. O’Keefe, VP marketing for Spiegel brands, who joins DMA on September 30.

A central aspect of O’Keefe’s job will be to provide feedback from the catalog and multichannel retail segment to DMA. He will also be helping to provide the segment’s membership with more relevant, focused and timely access to DMA’s various functions, such as advocacy, self-regulation, education, research and networking opportunities. O’Keefe will be reporting directly to Ken Ebeling, senior VP, member and segment services.

“The creation of a vice president position for the catalog and multichannel merchant segment is an affirmation of our commitment to this core segment of the direct marketing community that represents both the best of our long heritage in direct marketing as well as the continuing leading-edge innovations in integrated multichannel consumer and business marketing,“ said John A. Greco Jr., president and CEO of DMA, in a statement. “Neil brings to DMA an extensive background in Internet marketing, catalog circulation, and database marketing. Having Neil in this newly created position will enable DMA to adapt its strategy and focus on the core issues facing the segment membership, including economic, technological, and regulatory challenges.”

Prior to his role at Spiegel, O’Keefe was the divisional VP at Newport News. O’Keefe began his career as a manager at Hanover Direct.