FORMER BEN journalist Gary Zabel led the sale of Hollis Directories Ltd to Wilmington Publishing Group and the company's management.

Mr Zabel, the Hollis Managing Director, instigated the deal after it became clear that the previous owner, Sweden's Observer AB, had decided that the directory and database publisher fell outside its core business.

He and colleagues Rosie Sarginson and Jane Ireland approached Wilmington and now have a 25 per cent share of the equity.

Hollis, which is based in Teddington, Middlesex, publishes seven annual directories, a newsletter and runs the annual awards event for the sponsorship industry.

Its major title is the Hollis Press & Public Relations Annual and its associated website portal for the PR industry -- www.hollis-pr.com

Radcliffe-born Mr Zabel, aged 47, is a former BEN reporter who later pursued a successful publishing and business development career with Reed International before joining Hollis in 1991.

Before moving south -- he now lives in Fetcham, near Leatherhead -- he had spells as Education Correspondent, Prestel Manager and Special Publications Manager.

His wife Ruth, a former teacher at Beaumont Primary School, Ladybridge, now teaches in Epsom. Daughters Katie (19) and Laura (16) were born in Bolton.

Hollis, which employs nearly 30 staff, was founded in 1967.

Six years ago it was bought by the Romeike Group, which sold out last December to media monitoring company Sifo, subsequently re-named Observer AB.

It is now a subsidiary of Wilmington Business Information.

As part of the deal, ownership of the Willings Press Guide has been transferred from Hollis to Observer's subsidiary, Media Information Ltd.

Mr Zabel makes a point of keeping in touch with Bury FC and Bolton Wanderers through the BEN website -- www.thisisbolton.co.uk