Nigel Pegg gains wider Axiell Group role; Jim Burton becomes Managing Director of DS

July 3, 2008 - PRLog -- Following the recent merger of DS, the market leader in UK public libraries and archives, and Axiell Library Group AB, the leading supplier of IT Systems and services to Nordic libraries, Nigel Pegg, Managing Director of DS, has taken on new responsibilities as part of the Axiell Group management team. Jim Burton, DS’ Business Development Director, is promoted to Managing Director in place of Nigel who becomes Deputy Chairman.

“There are many important opportunities for the Axiell Group, and to be able to contribute across the Group offers exciting possibilities”, said Nigel. “I am delighted to be asked to take on the wider role while also being able to maintain my involvement with DS.  I am confident that Jim has the vision and abilities to drive DS forward to new successes and believe that now is the ideal time for this transition with the new opportunities that membership of Axiell Group brings to the company; I look forward to working with him in our new roles.”

Jim Burton relishes his new appointment; “I am very pleased to become Managing Director of DS at a time of such potential for the company. Our strategic vision coupled with our product portfolio puts DS firmly at the forefront of Library IT systems. The rich functionality of the OpenGalaxy Library Management System, with the efficiencies it provides for library staff, combined with the step change in public user interfaces that DS Arena provides, puts us in an extremely strong position. My task is to ensure that we build on those strengths.”

These changes strengthen both DS as the UK arm of Axiell and Axiell Group as a whole. Jerk Sintorn, CEO of Axiell Group is pleased with the move; “I have known both Nigel and Jim since well before the merger and I am confident they will add substantially to Axiell Group. These appointments demonstrate the quality of the DS management team, and Axiell Group’s confidence in it.”

Nigel Pegg
Having started his career in libraries, Nigel moved to the office automation sector working for Ericssons and Datapoint. Returing to information management, he was responsible for introducing the first PC-based library management systems to the UK then became Sales Director of SLS where he led the sales team to establish new markets in Sweden and Spain. His first role in DS was as Business Development Director in 1995 when he oversaw the development of the Calm system and introduced DS to the archives, museums and records management markets. Appointed Managing Director in 2000, he extended group activity into the area of web-delivered systems and inter-operability, expanded the FM business (hosting & managed services) and oversaw the start of the London Libraries Consortium which has now grown to 12 members.

Jim Burton
Jim Burton has worked in the Information Technology sector for over 20 years both in the library sector and in other areas. He founded Esprit Limited in 2000 and grew this business to a turnover of £3m prior to acquisition by Dokimas Group in 2003. Since that date he led Esprit through the development of the ShareCare social care toolset involving partnerships with IBM and substantial government funding.
Jim was appointed Business Development Director of DS in 2007 has devoted himself to developing DS’ products and business.



www.axiell.com

www.ds.co.uk

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Founded in the mid 1980’s, Axiell was the first vendor in the Nordic countries to develop a local library management system. In 1996 it was one of the world’s first suppliers to launch a complete graphic local library system which implemented all of the established library standards. This development has continued, and today Axiell Library Group is the world’s fifth largest company in the sector, supplying IT systems and services dedicated solely to libraries as a target group and with its focus on library development.

Axiell develops technically advanced library management systems in close cooperation with its customers.

More than 700 municipalities are using Axiell’s systems in their public libraries in the Nordic countries. Together with school libraries and special libraries Axiell’s systems are used more than 3000 different places.