KBM Group Sponsors Direct Marketing Association an

Richardson, TX, July 18, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recognizing the growing strategic importance of data, particularly marketing data, to businesses on an enterprise scale, KBM Group, a global leader in data-driven, insight-based marketing and customer engagement, is a supporting sponsor of data governance research conducted jointly by the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) and Winterberry Group.   

The research examines the current state of marketing data governance strategies and proposes how they need to evolve to support the long-term interest of all enterprise stakeholders by defining five key actions for marketers to consider as they build a strategic data governance capability.

"Data is a critical ingredient to successful customer engagement helping to deliver mutual value to both organizations and consumers," says Brooks Dobbs, Chief Privacy Officer, KBM Group. "Because data plays such a crucial role in both a robust business environment and consumer satisfaction, marketers need to recognize that proper data governance is now a strategic competency and is vital to a central strategy regarding  how to  collect, manage, secure, use and share information across the entire enterprise."

To obtain a copy of the research white paper, "The New Rules of the Road: Marketing Data Governance in the Era of "Big Data"," visit www.kbmg.com .

About KBM Group

KBM Group helps companies create meaningful and mutually beneficial engagements with their customers through data-driven insights. We combine data, sophisticated analytics, actionable insights, and marketing technology to optimize multi-channel engagement throughout the customer lifecycle. KBM Group's world-class marketing services include strategic marketing consulting, data integration and database management, analytics, digital services, outsourcing, creative services, and response services. Our parent company, Wunderman, is part of the Young & Rubicam Group and a member of WPP (NASDAQ: WPPGY).  www.kbmg.com

About Winterberry Group

Winterberry Groupis a unique strategic consulting firm that supports the growth of advertising, marketing, media and information organizations. Whose services include: Corporate Strategy, Market Intelligence, Marketing System Optimization and Alignment, Mergers and Acquisitions Due Diligence Support Services. Additionally, Winterberry Group is differentiated through its affiliation with Petsky Prunier LLC , the leading investment bank serving the technology, media, marketing, e-commerce and healthcare industries. Together, the two firms provide one of the largest and most experienced sources of strategic and transactional services in their addressable markets. www.winterberrygroup.com .

About DMA

The Direct Marketing Associationis the world's largest trade association dedicated to advancing and protecting responsible data-driven marketing. Founded in 1917, DMA represents thousands of companies and nonprofit organizations that use and support data-driven marketing practices and techniques.

In 2012, marketers--commercial and nonprofit--spent $168.5 billion on direct marketing, which accounts for 52.7 percent of all ad expenditures in the United States. Measured against total US sales, these advertising expenditures generated approximately $2.05 trillion in incremental sales. In 2012, direct marketing accounted for 8.7 percent of total US gross domestic product and supported 1.3 million direct marketing employees in the US. Their collective sales efforts directly support 7.9 million other jobs, accounting for a total of 9.2 million US jobs. www.the-dma.org .

Peggy Garner KBM Group 713.995.2358 or 281.865.1412