Bell Atlantic, R.R. Donnelley create Global Directory Services Company
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Bell Atlantic, R.R. Donnelley create Global Directory
Services Company
Announce expansion in Greece
22 de septiembre de 1997
| Media contacts: | 978-762-1333 312-326-7740 011-301-720-0000 |
MIDDLETON, Mass. -- Bell Atlantic Information Services Group, the
world's largest publisher of Yellow Pages shopping directories, and
R.R. Donnelley & Sons Company, the world's largest printer,
announced today the formation of Global Directory Services Company,
to publish shopping directories outside the United States.
The new company includes operations in Poland, Gibraltar and the
Czech and Slovak republics, which are scheduled to publish over 7.5
million directories in some 80 editions this year.
In addition, beginning in 1998, Global Directory Services Company
will publish Yellow Pages shopping directories in Greece, beginning
in Athens. The sales campaign for the Athens directory will begin
early next year.
Global Directory Services' partner in Greece is ICAP, the
country's largest financial and business information company. ICAP
is approximately 45 percent owned by Alpha Credit Bank, the largest
private bank in Greece. The International Olympic Committee recently
named Greece, the home of the first Olympics, as the site for the
Summer Olympics in 2004.
"Global Directory Services Company combines the leadership,
expertise and experience of Bell Atlantic and R.R. Donnelley in the
directory industry and in conducting business internationally," said
Ken Marks, President - Global Directory Services. "This opens a new
chapter in the 75-year-long relationship between our companies, as we
combine to promote commerce and economic growth outside the United
States with top quality shopping directories."
"Global Directory Services is important to our customers around the
world and our company," said Steven J. Baumgartner, executive vice
president and sector president - Global Commercial Print for R.R.
Donnelley & Sons Company. "In partnership with Bell Atlantic, we
will put unparalleled expertise to work connecting buyers and
sellers, helping to build directory businesses in high potential and
emerging markets, and expanding our core directory printing business
worldwide."
Global Directory Services expects to apply its expertise in shopping
directory marketing, sales, design and production with international,
regional and local business partners, adapting its owners' success
in the United States to new cultures and markets, as has been
accomplished successfully in Poland, Gibraltar and the Czech and
Slovak republics.
Bell Atlantic, with $29 billion in 1996 revenue and a team of
141,600 people, is at the forefront of the new communications,
information and entertainment industry. With 40 million telephone
access lines and 5.5 million wireless customers worldwide, Bell A
tlantic companies are premier providers of advanced wireline voice
and data services, market leaders in wireless services and the
world's largest publishers of directory information. Bell Atlantic
companies are also among the world's largest investors in high-growth
global communications markets, with operations and investments in 21
countries. Additional information about Bell Atlantic is available
through the Internet's World Wide Web at www.bellatlantic.com.
R. R. Donnelley & Sons Company (1996 sales: $6.6 billion) is a world
leader in managing, reproducing and distributing print and digital
information for the publishing, retailing, merchandising and
information-technology markets. It specializes in the production of
catalogs, inserts, magazines, books, directories, and financial and
computer documentation. Founded in Chicago in 1864, the company
employs 38,000 people in 26 countries on five continents.
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Global Directory Services Company
Fact Sheet
Locations
- Czech Republic
- Gibraltar
- Greece
- Poland
- Slovak Republic
1997 Directories
- 81 editions
- 7.5 million copies
Customers
- 108,000
Empleados
- 1,385
Ownership
Bell Atlantic Information Services Group
R.R. Donnelley & Sons
Board of Directors
Matthew J. Stover, group president - Bell Atlantic Information
Services Group
Steven J. Baumgartner, executive vice president and sector president
- Global
Commercial Print - R.R. Donnelley & Sons
Ken Marks, president - Global Directory Services Company
John Natoli, vice president and general counsel - Bell Atlantic
Information Services Group