DMG names former Next head as chairman

The Direct Marketing Group (DMG) has appointed retailer David Jones as chairman. Jones was previously chairman of high-street retailer Next and deputy chairman of Morrisons and will be tasked with preparing DMG for listing on the AIM stock market next year.

The group has also acquired charity specialist Whitewater and JDA, a Leeds-based full-service agency. DMG chief executive Martin Smith (pictured) says: “We will be looking to acquire further suitable DM agencies and support services providers with the express aim of creating a uniquely focussed AIM listed DM group with strong print based and online capabilities.”

DMG, formerly known as Millennium Marketing and Communications Group, now has 300 staff and an annual turnover of more than £45m. It comprises Millennium, a creative and advertising agency specialising in mature markets, Coltec Parker, a design and print division, Pushbutton, a database management and processing company and fundraising specialist DMS.