Havencrest Capital Management Acquires Focus Staff Services

November 6, 2023 – Havencrest Capital Management, a Dallas-based healthcare private equity firm, has acquired Focus Staff Services, a provider of temporary workforce solutions in the healthcare marketplace. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We have been extremely impressed with Focus’s growth to date and are excited about our partnership with the company,” said Matt Shofner, partner of Havencrest. “The COVID-19 pandemic brought to light many underlying, but persistent, healthcare workforce issues, and we are committed to furthering the company’s growth in order to help alleviate those issues.”

“Workforce solutions are an increasingly important part of care delivery across the healthcare spectrum,” said Jett Aubrey, principal of Havencrest. “We believe Focus is well-positioned to be a flexible and efficient partner to its customers’ personnel needs.”

Founded in 2009 and based in Dallas, TX, Focus provides both nurse and allied recruiting services, across all 50 states, to many of the country’s leading integrated delivery networks, acute care hospitals and other healthcare facilities.

Since completing the majority recapitalization of Focus, Havencrest has added two recruiting veterans to the company’s board of advisors: Steven Francis, founder, former CEO and chairman of AMN Healthcare Services, and Kay Cowling, former CEO of Fastaff.

“At Focus, we believe in delivering the best service to our clients and providing greater access to the highest quality healthcare professionals in order to tackle the real shortages we see across the market,” said Kyle Rhodes, founder and CEO of Focus. “We are thrilled to have found a partner in Havencrest that aligns with our values, shares our visions and can help us achieve our goals.”

Dallas-based Havencrest Capital Management is an investment manager of healthcare-focused private equity funds with more than $600 million of assets under management. Havencrest comprises a leading team of investment professionals, operating partners and senior advisors, including many of the nation’s leading healthcare entrepreneurs, corporate executives and public policy experts.

Recent Deals

Acquisitions and consolidations continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. And it’s not just executive search firms. Technology-based outfits have also been in on the action. Here is a sampling from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:

The Christopher Group, a boutique HR executive search and business solutions recruiting firm, has completed a letter of intent to acquire Six Summit Leadership, an executive coaching and leadership development firm. “We are extremely excited to continue to innovate and add value for our current and prospective clients,” said Nathaniel Schiffer, CEO of The Christopher Group. “This acquisition not only broadens our capabilities but also reinforces our dedication to assisting our clients in nurturing effective leadership and fostering positive change within their organizations. Equally important this acquisition will provide a physical presence in the mountain and western regions from which to build and nurture critical relationships.”

Corsica Partners has acquired Alora Search Partners and appointed its founding partner, Mary Langan as managing director and cybersecurity practice lead. “Alora Search Partners has developed a respected reputation serving public, VC and PE backed software, robotics, and cybersecurity firms,” said Dan Veitkus, managing partner and CEO of Corsica Partners. “Under Mary’s leadership, Alora has carved out a place among the most admired executive search boutiques and I’m delighted to welcome the Alora team, their clients, and candidates into the Corsica Partners’ family. With this acquisition, we extend our capacity to deliver exceptional C-suite talent across every major function of the enterprise.”

Leadership advisory firm Russell Reynolds Associates (RRA) has acquired Nvolv, a boutique leadership consulting firm serving CEOs and C-suite executives of global businesses. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Our acquisition of Nvolv represents a powerful opportunity for us to bolster our client offerings and further strengthen our preeminent position as leaders in C-suite leadership advisory services,” said Constantine Alexandrakis, CEO of Russell Reynolds Associates. “Bob and the entire Nvolv team have an enviable track record of building deep relationships and driving extraordinary results at the most senior levels of organizations, and we look forward to joining forces to increase the depth of both firms’ impact in advising and coaching C-suite executives, preparing the next generation of senior executives, supporting new leader integration, de-risking CEO succession, and aligning top teams to deliver on their transformation agendas.”

ZRG, a global talent advisory firm and portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, has acquired Helbling & Associates, an executive search firm focused on real estate, facilities, and construction. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The addition of the Helbling team to the ZRG family will bolster our growing real estate practice,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “We’ll have more resources for our clients, including support in the construction sector of the real estate industry. We are very excited to bring even greater depth and breadth of expertise to the companies we serve.” Helbling & Associates, based in Wexford, PA, was established in 1992 by Tom Helbling to meet the recruiting needs of construction contractors and real estate developers. As clients began referring the firm to their professional networks, Helbling’s client base expanded to entities with significant real estate assets and facilities management needs. Today, Helbling’s clients include institutions of education, healthcare, and research, as well as cultural and community organizations. The firm has completed search assignments in 43 states.

Stockholm, Sweden-based executive search firm Mercuri Urval (MU) has acquired German executive search firm Delta Management Consultants GmbH. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “We are pleased to be acquiring such a longstanding firm with such exceptional colleagues,” said Richard Moore, CEO. “Together we will create even further value for both our clients. Today clients need effective, sustainable, and diverse leadership more than ever. Acquiring and improving leadership is the greatest challenge organizations face – and the only way they can sustainably outperform.” Founded in 1983, Delta Management Consultants has for over 30 years assisted clients in areas such as executive search, leadership advisory, management consulting, and more. Anja Schelte, J. Carlos Fernandes, and Stefan Koop, managing partners of Delta Management Consultants GmbH, said: “We look forward to a future together with Mercuri Urval. Our employees benefit from the company’s resources and global presence. Our clients can continue to count on the proven expertise and commitment of us, their longstanding advisors, but now with the added value and expanded capabilities that this strategic acquisition offers.”

Related: Hunt Scanlon Media Launches M&A Advisory Service for Recruiters

Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media