JW Michaels & Co. Acquires Legerity Group
September 25, 2023 – New York-based executive search firm JW Michaels & Co. has acquired executive consulting firm Legerity Group Inc. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “This addition of Legerity fits perfectly in the JW Michaels Holdings portfolio, expanding the family of brands to 20 offices across the country,” JW Michaels & Co. said. “It also provides Legerity with the tools and resources necessary to increase its expansion and growth as a senior consulting practice while competing with larger companies on a national scale.”
This move includes the addition of Legerity director of business development Mark Slakter. Mr. Slakter has a more than two decades of experience in the executive consulting search and financial services staffing industries. “Mark is the heart and soul of Legerity Group, and I can’t think of someone who would be a better fit for us,” said Jason Wachtel, founder and managing partner of JW Michaels. “He’s the right person to help us grow in South Florida and to help bolster our senior consulting practice.”
Legerity is based in Boca Raton, FL, and provides JW Michaels with another location in the South Florida market. Legerity’s national executive consulting operation primarily addresses interim middle- to senior-level finance and accounting positions.
“Having access to all that JW Michaels has to offer is a very exciting proposition,” said Mr. Slakter. “At the same time, we bring some added expertise in the senior-level consulting space to the table, another arrow in their arsenal in a rapidly growing part of the country. It is the best kind of win-win scenario for everyone involved.”
JW Michaels & Co. is an executive search firm dedicated to serving the recruiting needs of top-tier financial services, legal, technology, and business institutions, including investment management firms, hedge funds, investment banks, law firms, and Fortune 500 companies. The firm has additional offices in Chicago; Atlanta; Greenville, SC; Houston, TX; Denver, CO; Austin, TX; and Miami.
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:
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, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
