Addison Group Acquires Bridgepoint Consulting

November 29, 2017 – Chicago-based recruiting firm Addison Group has acquired Bridgepoint Consulting, an Austin, TX-based management consulting firm that delivers financial operations, risk/compliance, and technology services to support companies throughout their business lifecycle. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed.

“We saw a clear opportunity to leverage Addison Group’s high-caliber team, proven performance, and industry-leading growth with a well-established firm offering a full suite of management consulting services and similar growth strategy,” said Thomas Moran, CEO of Addison Group.

The acquisition strengthens Addison Group’s presence in several high-growth Texas markets, anchored by a tenured leadership team with deep industry expertise and business relationships. The transaction is aligned with Addison’s strategy to broaden its national service footprint through organic growth and acquisition of high-growth, high-margin firms with strong client relationships and complementary service offerings, said the firm.

The acquisition will also help to expand Addison Group’s consulting arm and solidify its status as a leader in the professional services market through Bridgepoint Consulting’s niche expertise and team of over 140 finance, technology and risk professionals.

“This exciting partnership provides Bridgepoint the incredible opportunity to leverage Addison’s national presence to accelerate our growth strategy and extend our services,” said Bob Smith, co-founder and principal of Bridgepoint Consulting. “We look forward to working with the Addison team to build new synergies while enhancing our ability to deliver high-value services for our clients. This also provides many career opportunities for our team that will allow them to continue growing professionally.”

Addison Group provides recruiting services for the information technology, finance & accounting, executive search, healthcare, HR & administrative, and engineering industries. It has 18 offices across the U.S.

Earlier this year, Addison Group acquired technology consulting firm AIM Consulting. Founded in 2006, AIM Consulting has offices in Seattle, Denver and Minneapolis. The company offers a range of service offerings and engagement tools to more than 400 clients.

These acquisitions follow Odyssey Investment Partners having made a strategic investment in Addison Group to help support the firm’s organic and acquisition growth strategy. “After several years of sustained growth, Addison Group’s partnership with Odyssey arms us with significant capital to propel our growth strategy to the next level,” said Mr. Moran. “We will remain highly focused on expanding nationally through organic opportunities, while also continuing to add tuck-in acquisitions that complement our business model and culture.”

Recent M&A activity

Acquisitions continue to make big news in the executive search industry. Here’s a sampling taken from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

DES Recruitment has merged with U.K.-based Miramar Global Executive Search. John Hodge, founder and managing partner of DES Recruitment, will become managing partner for Miramar. Miramar Global has forged a reputation serving U.S. multinationals in the Americas as well as across EMEA and Asia.

Gibson Consultants, a recruiter that serves healthcare payers and digital health companies, has merged with its affiliate, Enterprise Recruiters, a recruiting firm also focused on digital health companies. The combined company, which will keep the Gibson Consultants name, has also opened an additional office in Wilmington, NC.

Asset management executive recruiters Grace Point Partners and BraddockMatthews have merged. The joint firm will continue to serve clients across traditional and alternative asset management, including hedge fund, private equity, endowment and foundation, and family office organizations. The firm will be known as BraddockMatthews and have offices in Manhattan and Boston.

DHR International has acquired boutique executive search firm COOPER+LOGAN. With the addition of two new managing partners, the acquisition strengthens DHR’s retail/fashion industry and functional expertise. COOPER+LOGAN, founded in 2008, specializes in the selection of senior-level design, merchandising and creative services candidates for “brand-centric” clients. 

Global recruiter Ward Howell International has acquired Curran Partners, a Stamford, CT-based executive search firm with a concentration in the life sciences, among other sectors it serves. Founded in 1989, Curran Partners became the U.S. member of ECI Group, an international network, in 2003.

Global financial recruiting specialist Options Group acquired MCL Search Ltd, an executive search firm based in London specializing in electronic markets (trading and distribution), prime brokerage/ clearing and financial trading technology with a focus on currencies and fixed income. Founding partners, Maria Aldous and Charlotte Battisti, bring a combined 25 years in executive search.

Focus Search Partners (FSP), the executive search division of talent solutions provider Vaco, has acquired the Dallas, TX-based recruiters Taylor Winfield. With the acquisition, FSP gains a team of professionals with enterprise operating experience across industries including Internet/ digital media, technology/ SaaS software, consumer/ retail/ food service and business services.

ZRG Partners acquired life sciences specialist HM Long Global Partners. As part of the asset acquisition agreement, Helga Long, formerly the chair and CEO of HM Long/ RSVP Group, joined ZRG Partners. Ms. Long is considered one of the world’s top executive search professionals in life sciences.

Jordan Search Consultants, a recruiting firm focused on the healthcare, executive and higher education sectors, acquired Health Search New England (HSNE), a search firm specializing in the recruitment of healthcare providers throughout the Northeast. Financial terms of the deal were undisclosed.

Acertitude acquired Los Angeles-based Olive Avenue Search Partners. Olive Avenue’s founders, Gwen Sabo and Joann Maciejewski, bring deep expertise in the development of research capabilities, training and development, and identifying and engaging top talent. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ohio-headquartered Torch Group acquired Selker Leadership, a search firm that places candidates in the technology and software fields. Selker Leadership’s president, Gregory L. Selker, will join Torch Group as senior vice president and search operations leader, overseeing the firm’s search practice, including research and candidate development.

Buffkin/ Baker recently merged New York-based WTW Associates into its expanding executive recruiting platform. WTW, a talent provider focused on the media, entertainment, technology and law industries, will integrate its operations into the Buffkin/ Baker New York office. Warren Wasp becomes a partner in the firm, and will head its entertainment/ media practice.

U.K.-based Hydrogen Group acquired Argyll Scott for £3.3 million. Together, the combined firms will deliver recruitment services across multiple functions, industries and countries. The acquisition allows Hydrogen to accelerate international growth plans and benefit from greater strength and depth in the London market.

Walter James recently acquired Euromedica Executive Search Limited. Walter James operates in the life sciences sector with a focus on global enabling units. The acquisition positions the firm to offer end-to-end specialist service across the entire life sciences value chain. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Will Schatz, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media