REaD Group acquires key assets as UKChanges shuts

1219 REaD Group - Jon Cano-LopezREaD Group has taken over the ownership and management of a number of UKChanges’ assets, including its market-leading data management platforms, following the collapse of the firm’s parent company Direct Select (192), which went into administration late last month.

The Warwickshire business was founded in 1991 by Steven Day and Mike Fox and specialised in data management, data enrichment, insight and software and campaign development. Day stepped down in 2014, leaving Fox as the sole director.

On its website, the company insisted it was business as usual, with the team working remotely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, it is understood that difficult market conditions, exacerbated by the crisis, has forced the firm to shut up shop. Conrad Beighton has been appointed administrator.

REaD Group has taken over two key assets from the administrator; ukc>online, an online data management platform with full technical and account management support; and ukc>connect, which offers a suite of data management tools and services for integrating with in-house and third party tools or website and e-commerce platforms.

The platforms will be incorporated into REaD Group’s product portfolio with immediate effect.

REaD Group chief executive Jon Cano-Lopez (pictured) said: “We are saddened by this news, but the opportunity to host and manage these technically brilliant platforms was not one we could overlook.

“Taking ownership of these key assets enables us to combine UKChanges’ technical platforms with our leading data products, offering businesses the best technology platform with the best data.

“The combination of first-class platforms, unparalleled data and seamless API connectivity creates an incredibly strong offering for both businesses and marketers. Looking to the future, we are excited about exploring the new opportunities that this will open up for our business.”

Last month, data protection compliance consultancy Opt-4 became the industry’s first high-profile casualty of the coronavirus pandemic. Launched by Jenny Moseley and the late Rosemary Smith, it had been in operation since 2005.

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