Cielo Acquires AsiaNet China
March 9, 2020 – Brookfield, WI-based Cielo, a strategic recruitment process outsourcing firm, has acquired AsiaNet China, an RPO, executive search, recruitment and payroll (HRO) business based in Shanghai. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
“There’s major demand for RPO in the China market,” said Sue Marks, founder and CEO of Cielo. “This acquisition builds on our existing capability in China to better serve our regional and global customers. We’re also excited about the skills and capabilities of our new team members. We’ve worked closely with AsiaNet China since 2018, and we have great respect for their business, their leadership and their reputation for delivering positive results for their clients.”
AsiaNet China was founded by Daniel Liu in early 2000 and has offices in Shanghai, Guangzhou, Wuhan and Hong Kong. They serve customers across a range of industries including engineering, advanced manufacturing, life sciences, supply chain, infrastructure, construction and properties, automotive and technology. AsiaNet China and Cielo currently partner to provide in-country support to various Cielo clients.
“Joining Cielo strengthens our capabilities in both RPO and executive search,” said Daniel Liu, CEO and founder of AsiaNet China. “Further, it significantly increases our ability to serve international companies and sizeable Chinese enterprises in the Greater China Region. We are excited to continue producing great work for our current clients, as well as Cielo clients in China.”
The acquisition of AsiaNet China gives Cielo a significant foothold in China, with the addition of three offices in Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities. The two companies will combine their Hong Kong operations into one office. The new presence and local capability enable Cielo to respond to growing demand for its RPO services in the country, benefiting existing Cielo clients and better positioning the company to win global customers.
The AsiaNet China team will operate under the Cielo brand name, with existing team members continuing to support current clients. This acquisition marks Cielo’s latest investment in growing its global footprint. Over the last year, the company has expanded its delivery centers in Manila and Buenos Aires and added offices in Paris and Cologne.
Executive Search Offering
Last year, Cielo brought in its executive search experts into a global practice under the Cielo brand. Craig Pointon, who has led executive recruiting for the Middle East and Africa region since 2007, is now Cielo’s executive vice president and global head of executive search.
“It has become increasingly apparent in recent years that the executive search industry hasn’t evolved at the pace of the rest of the recruitment industry,” Mr. Pointon said. “The traditional standard of waiting six weeks for a shortlist of qualified candidates should not be accepted in today’s world of advanced technology. It is our aim at Cielo to demystify executive search and help our clients measure ROI from their executive search partnership.”
Cielo’s executive search expertise extends to both mature and emerging markets across a variety of industries including healthcare, life sciences, advanced manufacturing, financial and business services and technology. The company offers retained search and leadership consulting that includes research and insights into competitors and the market overall and ensures that clients have a full executive-talent pipeline for future needs.
“Leveraging their local presence, global reach and industry expertise, Cielo’s executive search consultants partner with organizations’ C-suite and in-house talent teams to find and engage leaders who will fit their company culture and contribute to its success,” the firm said.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
