Acxiom Churning Out Data Execs And Startup Disciples

Much like Silicon Valley tech giants Microsoft, Facebook and Google but on a smaller scale, Acxiom Corp. is garnering a reputation in Central Arkansas’ and beyond as a great place for startup and tech companies seeking access to both human and venture capital.

Just last week, Acxiom Chief Revenue Officer Nada Stirratt, who announced she was leaving the company earlier this year, landed as CEO of Wall Street startup Verve Mobile, which calls itself a “pioneering leader in connecting mobile advertising with in-store sales.”

A recent Wall Street Journal blog post said Verve has raised about $36 million with big plans to grow under Stirratt’s helm. Verve also has the rare pleasure of listing the Associated Press as an angel investor.

With Stirratt’s hiring, Little Rock’s tech giant is now seen in some circles as a primer for hot startup executives in the growing area of mobile and digital advertising. The former Acxiom exec joins the fast-growing ranks of former Acxiom disciples now taking on leadership roles at other companies and startups in the fast-growing digital advertising and data world.

Earlier this month, both PrivacyStar and Inuvo announced plans to relocate from Conway downtown Little Rock only blocks from Acxiom’s corporate offices.

Of course, PrivacyStar CEO and Inuvo board director Charles Morgan is the former longtime chairman and CEO of Acxiom, while Inuvo’s CEO Rich Howe was the former chief marketing officer at the Arkansas-based technology and data giant for several years.

Not surprisingly, both companies’ payrolls include a number of former Acxiom employees up and down the management ladder.