Cento Acquires Assets of U.S.-Based Executive Search Firm SCW Consulting
April 2, 2026 – U.K.-based executive recruiting firm Cento has acquired the assets of Broomfield, CO-based executive search firm SCW Consulting, bringing together two specialized firms in the global security recruitment sector. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The deal unites Cento CEO Brett Ennals and Tom Verzuh, combining experience across international security and technology recruitment markets. The companies said the transaction aligns two organizations that have supported industry growth from Europe and North America.
Mr. Ennals explained that the partnership reflects a shared understanding of the security sector and its evolving talent requirements. “Tom and the SCW Consulting team have built an outstanding reputation in the North American security market,” he said. “What impressed us most was the depth of their relationships and their understanding of the industry. Bringing our organizations together allows us to combine our global reach with SCW’s strong U.S. presence. The acquisition strengthens Cento’s ability to support clients across international markets.”
Mr. Verzuh said the move expands opportunities for both clients and candidates. “Over the past two decades we’ve built SCW around deep relationships within the security and technology markets,” he said. “Joining forces with Cento allows us to expand that reach globally while continuing to support the clients and professionals we’ve worked with for many years. This offers us substantial resources and will expand our North American capabilities and market segments in the physical security and related building services market.”
Founded in 2005, Cento focuses on specialist recruitment across the building services sector, including fire, security, mechanical, electrical, vertical transportation, HVAC and related disciplines. SCW Consulting, established in 2000, specializes in executive and professional recruitment for the physical security and voice, data and interconnect markets. Together, the firms bring more than 45 years of combined experience and a network spanning manufacturers, integrators, distributors and technology companies.
Cento said the integration expands its North American footprint while enhancing access to senior leadership talent and specialist professionals across the security ecosystem.
With operations across Europe, the U.S., the UAE and South Africa, the combined organization aims to provide clients with broader access to talent and market insight across established and emerging security markets.
The companies said the combined platform will deliver greater specialization in physical and electronic security recruitment, expanded executive and board-level search capabilities, stronger North American coverage and broader access to technical and commercial talent. The partnership positions the organization to support customers as the security industry evolves alongside the convergence of physical security, digital infrastructure and intelligent building technologies, according to the announcement.
Recent Deals
Hunt Scanlon Ventures has facilitated a number of M&A transactions across the executive search space in recent months. Here is a look at a few:
Talento Human Capital has acquired R2 Global, a highly respected technology recruitment and staffing firm known for its niche expertise across cloud & data, business systems, and e-commerce. This strategic move will expand TalentoHC’s existing footprint in the technology sector and launch, as well as strengthen, its technology search & staffing service lines. “The combination of TalentoHC’s talent acquisition expertise with R2’s deep technical focus marks an exciting new chapter for both organizations,” said Juan Gaitan, CEO of TalentoHC, based in Coral Gables, FL. “R2’s agile approach to technology staffing and recruiting aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver tailored recruitment solutions. Together, as R2 Powered by Talento, we are positioned to become a premier go-to partner for IT talent and innovation,” he added. “TalentoHC and R2 Global customers will benefit tremendously from the portfolio of human capital offerings that the combined organizations now provide,” said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO and co-founder of Hunt Scanlon Ventures.
Global talent advisory firm ZRG has acquired Aspen Leadership Group, a search firm focused on placing and supporting top fundraising leaders and executive talent in educational institutions and the broader non-profit sector. “The addition of Aspen Leadership Group is nothing short of transformative,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “Their expertise in development and advancement is the perfect complement to our growing education practice, and as we roll into 2025 we are unlocking the collective power of these exceptional niche businesses under the unified banner of ZRG’s education practice, creating unmatched solutions for academic and non-profit leadership.” Aspen Leadership Group, established in 2013, conducts a wide range of searches across the fundraising, education and non-profit sector and is widely considered the eminent leader in its field. Its clients include Brown University, PBS, Robin Hood, the Humane Society of the United States, the Leakey Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Denver Zoological Foundation, among others.
Talento Human Capital (TalentoHC) has acquired The PeterSan Group and PeterSan Legal Staffing. The merger brings expertise in legal recruiting to TalentoHC’s customer experience model and comprehensive human capital services, including retained executive search, professional and management recruiting, RPO, staff augmentation, and human capital consulting. Managing partners Peter Gosule, Peter Goldfeder, and Sandy Friedman of The PeterSan Group will lead the TalentoLegal business unit from New York City, where the firm has been rooted for three decades. “The PeterSan transaction fits in well with our platform strategy as we build onto our customer-centric model and expand our industry and functional vertical focus,” said Juan Gaitan, CEO of TalentoHC, based in Coral Gables, FL. “The intersection of these two approaches will create opportunities for continued growth and value for our customers, candidates, associates and shareholders.”
ZRG acquired Jamesbeck, a New York City-based recruitment firm specializing in senior-level talent for the broad investment management community across private market and traditional firms. “This strategic move aims to establish ZRG’s presence in asset management and will support the firm’s existing private markets clients by adding a new channel for senior roles at the management company level across investments, product, and fundraising,” said ZRG. “Jamesbeck has been at the forefront of decisive changes that have impacted asset management leadership for more than two decades,” said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO of Hunt Scanlon Ventures. “The firm’s acquisition by ZRG will be beneficial to clients across the global investment management space who have come to rely on its network, judgment and guidance around senior-level leadership talent,” he noted. Jamesbeck specializes in the investment management industry across public and private markets. The firm recruits senior-level talent across investing, distribution, product and C-suite positions on behalf of a range of clients from boutiques to the largest multi-product organizations. Jamesbeck’s Melissa Norris, managing partner, and Beth Rustin, founding partner, will become the co-heads of asset management search at ZRG.
Related: How Search Firms are Winning Through M&A and Unlocking Value
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
