Charles Ward

Charles Ward was an industrialist and owner of the

Charles Ward and the Origins of Acxiom

The information technology company Acxiom owes its origins to Ward Bus Company owner Charles Ward. Ward founded Demographics Inc. in 1969 to meet the needs of local Republicans who wanted to create mailing lists competitive with their rival Democrats. The company soon expanded to cover other data processing needs. One client was the bus company itself. The company originally occupied a 6,000 square foot building housing a computer and press. Ward divested himself of Demographics in 1975 in the midst of hard times. Charles D. Morgan, a manager of the company since 1972, became the new president and CEO. Revenue by the middle of the 1970s had increased to $1.2 million. The company entered the payroll processing business and handled billing for the local utility Conway Corp.