Merkley was recruited as CEO for Creative Commons in 2014,[7] after the position was vacated by Catherine Casserly in 2013. His focus is on a new, long term strategy and sustainability of the organisation.[8][9][10] His 2016 op-ed in Wired criticising the academic publishing industry was referenced by Vice-President Joe Biden in his speech to the American Association for Cancer Research, calling for more open research.[11][12] In 2016, he successfully secured a $10 million grant from The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation to support Creative Commons' new strategy, re-focusing the organisation on encouraging sharing.[13][14][15]