Hudson RPO Appoints CFO
March 17, 2025 – Hudson RPO, a global total talent solutions company has named Kurt Kappeler as its new CFO. As CFO of Hudson RPO, Mr. Kappeler will report dually to Jake Zabkowicz, global CEO for Hudson RPO, and Matt Diamond, global CFO of Old Greenwich, Conn.-based recruiting firm Hudson Global Inc., which owns and manages Hudson RPO. Mr. Diamond will continue to focus on public company matters. “I have every confidence that Kurt will be a key partner and successful strategist in elevating Hudson Global outcomes, as he helps steer Hudson RPO to the next level of success,” said Mr. Diamond.
“Kurt’s wide-ranging experiences across roles and industries makes him uniquely qualified to help Hudson RPO grow not only financially but also operationally as we continue to expand,” said Mr. Zabkowicz.
Mr. Kappeler is an accomplished finance professional, with a career spanning 25 years in both public and private equity companies. His experience includes significant roles in initial public offerings (IPOs), acquisitions, debt and equity market transactions, and a diverse range of finance and operational activities. Most recently, Mr. Kappeler served as CFO for Motis Brands, a manufacturer and multi-channel reseller of loading, hauling, and transportation products. He also served as CFO for Amerimark Interactive and Sur la Table, and was the chief accounting officer for publicly traded regional retail grocer Roundy’s Supermarkets.
Hudson RPO also announced that it is further enhancing globalization of accounts by appointing David Whittingham-Jones as the leader of its go-to-market teams in both EMEA and North America. In this role, he will spearhead efforts to increase the number and size of the company’s RPO client engagements in those regions as well as ensure that partners feel the overall value that Hudson RPO brings to them. Mr. Whittingham-Jones first joined Hudson RPO in 2024 as the EMEA head of sales. He has more than 25 years in the recruitment industry and has a wide range of experience in driving market share growth, post-merger integration and large enterprise customer selling.
Related: Hudson Global RPO Appoints CEO
“During his short time here at Hudson RPO, David has already proven that he can effectively lead teams to expand existing accounts and win new business by offering unparalleled service to help our clients succeed,” said Mr. Zabkowicz. “We have no doubt he’ll bring his expertise, dedication and proven results to further streamline efforts across the globe.”
New Chief Digital Officer
Hudson RPO also announced the appointment of Stephanie Edwards as its new chief digital officer and global head of enterprise solutions. She will lead the charge in revolutionizing Hudson RPO’s digital capabilities and enterprise strategies, delivering innovative, efficient, cost-effective, and quality-driven talent solutions to clients worldwide. Ms. Edwards joins Hudson RPO following an accomplished decade-long career at Korn Ferry, where she held senior leadership roles including APAC president of digital and managing director of RPO for Australia and New Zealand.
Hudson RPO Acquires Dubai-Based Striver
Hudson RPO has acquired Striver, a Dubai-based executive search firm. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “With the new acquisition of Striver in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hudson RPO is strongly equipped to partner with new and existing clients for their senior talent acquisition needs in the rapidly growing Middle East region,” the company said. “We are pleased to continue to expand and enhance our offering in the executive search space,” said Jake Zabkowicz, global CEO of Hudson. “This furthers our ability to become and remain a core strategic partner for our clients as we assist them in putting the right people in place at all levels of their organizations to develop and execute a winning business strategy.”
As chief digital officer, Ms. Edwards will spearhead the design and deployment of a next-generation digital suite. In her role as global head of enterprise solutions for Hudson RPO, she will work with leaders to develop and execute a cohesive strategy for large-scale global partnerships.
“Expanding our digital capabilities is essential to our goal of being the leading, future-focused talent acquisition partner,” said Mr. Zabkowicz. “With Stephanie’s expertise in crafting transformative solutions, we are poised to deliver unparalleled value to our clients. Her commitment to developing a world-class digital suite will solidify Hudson RPO as the premier choice for organizations seeking innovative and cost-efficient talent strategies.”
Related: Hudson Global Acquires Karani
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
