By focusing on just RPO, we’ve made sure we’re the real specialists
in it. We’ve built the right infrastructure to deliver it, we’ve
got the best people to do it, and we’ve secured the most exciting
clients to work with. We have a broad enough scope to keep things
interesting, but we focus on what we’re best at – RPO.
We were the pioneers of RPO in Europe, and we’ve got a great
history and track record to show for it. And there have been really
positive developments for us recently as well. We’ve consolidated
both our leading position today and our commitment to growth in the
future, with an acquisition of another RPO provider, Capital
Consulting, and a management buy-out.
In December 2007, a leading private equity company, Graphite
Capital, backed us in an MBO. Graphite Capital has a strong
understanding of the recruitment sector and a close affinity with
our culture and values, and our vision to continue to be the global
market leader. Partnering with a private equity firm has enabled us
to retain our independence and gain the support to accelerate our
growth. It means we can continue to be an independent, trusted
advisor to our clients, acting without bias in the way we source
candidates and deliver our services.
In early 2008, we acquired a leading RPO player in Europe and
Asia Pacific, Capital Consulting. Capital Consulting was
established in 2000 and has built an impressive reputation, working
with high profile clients such as American Express, Coors, Verizon,
and Jones Lang LaSalle and sharing one client with AMS,
Vodafone.
Making the acquisition has given us an unrivalled position in
Europe and strong platform in Asia Pacific. This benefits our
clients by bringing together the innovation, expertise and best
practice of two successful specialists in our area. The acquisition
was made possible by a really strong cultural affinity between the
two companies, and a shared vision for our industry and the new,
combined organisation.