55 North is delighted to announce the acquisition of Database Marketing magazine from Blue Sky Publishing for an undisclosed six-figure sum. The magazine, formerly based in Nottingham, further widens 55 North's six-strong portfolio of trade and consumer magazines and marks 55 North’s first venture into the UK-wide publishing arena.

55 North Publishing Director Antony Begley will take over as managing editor of Database Marketing with immediate effect from the June 2008 issue, with current editor James Lawson and sales director Stuart Cal remaining closely involved with the magazine.

“We are very happy to pass the baton to a top-level publisher like 55 North, which we feel has the skills and resources to build on what we have already achieved with Database Marketing,” says founding editor James Lawson. “When we brought out the first issue in 1998, data-driven marketing meant envelopes and blanket mailings. Now there’s a hugely increased awareness of the primacy of customer data and targeting in multichannel direct acquisition and retention – and we think we can take some responsibility for that.”

“Database Marketing is the only publication in this marketplace to focus on the central importance of the customer database and how to get the best results from it,” says Antony Begley, Publisher Director at 55 North. “With in-depth articles, software reviews and case studies, it has invested in the kind of high-quality coverage that decision makers and influencers really value. We intend to maintain that editorial edge and are already working to offer both our readers and advertisers even more from the magazine.”

55 North Commercial Director Paul Begley added: “Database Marketing is a well established, well respected and highly successful magazine and we, as a larger organisation with access to greater resources, are confident that we can build on the strong foundations built over more than a decade by James and Stuart.

“We are also naturally delighted that both James and Stuart will continue to play an active role in the magazine and we look forward to working with them long into the future.”