THE Emerald Group publishing group has been acquired by Cambridge Information Group (CIG).

For over 50 years, Bingley-based Emerald has been an independent publishing house, formed by a group of management academics at the University of Bradford, UK, and latterly run as a family-owned business, spearheaded by the late Dr Keith Howard.

A publisher of academic journals, books, and case studies in the social sciences, Emerald has diversified into corporate learning through a suite of acquisitions which now form Emerald Works.

The acquisition signals a key milestone in the Group’s history; one which allows continuity as well as change, and the opportunity to accelerate growth, particularly in response to the evolving open research landscape.

Cambridge Information Group is a family-owned, mission-led investment firm with a history of long-term investments in education, information, and software companies. CIG’s acquisition of Emerald builds on their deep experience in the higher education industry, with real ambition for long-term growth of the business.

Vicky Williams, CEO of the Emerald Group, said: “Our ambition to drive positive change and publish impactful research that makes a difference will be bolstered significantly by the expertise in the CIG team, and we look forward to an exciting future driven by shared values.”