Infogroup has named Purandar Das chief architect and SVP of database technology, a newly-created position, Direct Marketing News has learned. Das will be responsible for developing and implementing Infogroup’s database innovation strategy.
Das will oversee a team of roughly 30 employees, and his group will work collaboratively with the Infogroup product division to design and develop data technologies.
“Infogroup is a technology-enabled business,” said Clare Hart, president and CEO of the data giant. “We must have innovation around technology and around data. The technology we wrap around our data makes that data all the more useful for clients. Having a strong technologist for us is critical.”
Infogroup hired Christian Ward as SVP and head of data strategy, analytics and capabilities last month. Ward’s responsibility will be to develop a data strategy concept, while Das will be responsible for implementing the strategy from a technology perspective, according to Hart.
Das most recently served as chief technology officer at Mobile Messenger. Prior to that, he was chief technology officer at Epsilon Email & Digital Solutions.
“Mobile and social are a big part of the future of data,” said Hart. “Having someone with that expertise in mobile was critically important.”
Despite these hires, Infogroup has also had its share of paring and layoffs recently. The company sold its research branch, Opinion Research Corp. International, to Chicago-based private equity firm Lake Capital in July. The move enabled the company to shed about 400 full-time employees, or approximately 15% of its full-time workforce. The company also began a round of layoffs June 30 that reportedly cut 140 jobs.
Infogroup removed Mike Hilts, president of its interactive unit, and Tim Price, the unit’s SVP of sales and marketing, from their positions in May. It also began an initiative to consolidate its disparate business units the month before.
The company also recently appointed Mike Iaccarino chairman of the company’s board of directors.
