DHR International Acquires Veni Partners

February 9, 2015 – DHR International has acquired Veni Partners LLP, a London-based executive search and advisory firm specializing in board and financial services. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Veni’s managing partner and head of financial services, Stéphane Rambosson, has joined DHR as managing director financial services Europe. Founder and chairman, Thomas Drewry, will become an advisor. The new team comprises nine people including four senior consultants who will be advising DHR financial clients across Europe out of DHR’s financial services center in London. Frank Smeekes, DHR’s European managing director, said: ″We are excited at the prospect of being able to offer our clients this additional expertise in the increasingly competitive financial services market across Europe and beyond. The acquisition of Veni Partners is a very good fit in terms of where we want to grow in Europe." In addition to senior-level recruiting, according to research firm HSZ Media, Veni provides board assessment services, coaching, management and corporate governance audit, benchmarking and pre-acquisition talent due diligence. "These are all high growth service offerings that DHR and a number of mid-sized leadership advisory firms are just beginning to identify and dive into," said HSZ Media managing director Scott A. Scanlon. "We're seeing service platforms diversifying very quickly now from traditional core recruiting offerings as the talent space heats up. Integrated leadership solutions — it's the latest front in the talent wars." Separately, privately held DHR made an unsolicited offer to acquire Top 10 recruiting rival CTPartners. CTPartners' board is considering the bid along with other options. Founded in 1989, DHR International is headquartered in Chicago and has more than 50 offices worldwide.