Infogroup Buys GoTime to Drive 'Data Axle' Platform

US data and marketing services giant Infogroup has acquired local data management platform GoTime, and integrated it into its just launched 'Data Axle' portal, which is led by recently promoted Chief Data Officer Christian Ward. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

Infogroup - the former parent of market research group ORC - collects information on people and businesses worldwide using a variety of sources such as public records, annual reports, government data, and census information. Its database contains information on 15.5 million businesses, and 210 million consumers.

Seattle-based GoTime provides information about happy hour deals for around 275,000 venues - such as clubs, bars and restaurants - across 107 cities. Following the acquisition, this platform will be used to power Infogroup's new Data Axle solution, which connects data hubs across proprietary and third party sources.

Ward (pictured) has been promoted to oversee Infogroup's data operations and platform, while expanding the firm's capabilities around the 'Data Axle' solution. He joined last year as SVP for Data Strategy, Analytics and Capabilities from Thomson Reuters, having previously founded two research and analytics companies, Jaywalk Incorporated and Ockham Research.

Commenting on the deal, Ward said: 'The acquisition will bring real-time data and a timeline view of every data element to our clients. GoTime enhances the Data Axle, providing Infogroup clients with the ability to see every change in their data through time, uncover the triggers and relationships that drive engagement, and utilize this data to build their businesses.'

Separately, Infogroup has promoted Mercy Ruiz to the post of Director of Corporate Communications from her prior role of Internal Communications Manager.

Web site: www.infogroup.com .