Sikich Acquires Jefferson Wells from ManpowerGroup for $100 Million
May 11, 2026 – Professional services firm Sikich has acquired Milwaukee, WI-based Jefferson Wells and its more than 300 U.S. employees from ManpowerGroup for $100 million. Across the U.S., Jefferson Wells delivers solutions in risk & compliance, finance & accounting, and tax – across a diverse range of industries, including to public and highly regulated companies – through project consulting, integrated resourcing and executive search. In 2025 Jefferson Wells U.S. revenues were $76 million.
“This transaction is a great outcome for our clients and shareholders as we continue to refine the portfolio to prioritize investments as part of our ongoing transformation,” said Jonas Prising, chair and CEO of ManpowerGroup. “As we move forward, we are focused on our core business—growing our Manpower, Experis, and Talent Solutions brands, while continuing to connect people to sustainable work and support clients in building the skilled workforces they need to succeed.”
“This acquisition enhances existing capabilities across our business, including deep expertise in risk and compliance, finance and accounting, and tax, making Jefferson Wells an ideal fit as we continue to scale,” said Christopher Geier, chairman and CEO of . “Both teams share a conviction of a people first culture and the belief that clients deserve practical, actionable solutions delivered at the highest level of quality.”
With over 30 years of operating history in the United States, Jefferson Wells brings a well-established reputation across key sectors including financial services, technology, and energy. This acquisition complements and strengthens Sikich’s existing presence in healthcare, life sciences, and manufacturing and distribution. In 2025, Jefferson Wells generated U.S. revenues of $76 million. The transaction was valued at $100 million, with net cash proceeds at closing of approximately $89 million after working capital adjustments and other items.
“We are delighted to see Jefferson Wells U.S. join Sikich, where there is strong alignment in capabilities, culture, and growth ambition”, added Ger Doyle, North America region president, ManpowerGroup. “This creates exciting opportunities for the business and its people. My sincere thanks to the teams on both sides for their hard work and professionalism in bringing this together. As we move forward, we are energized to focus on our core business and continue delivering value for our clients and candidates across North America.”
Recent Deals
Hunt Scanlon Ventures has facilitated a number of M&A transactions across the executive search space in recent months. Here is a look at a few:
Talento Human Capital has acquired R2 Global, a highly respected technology recruitment and staffing firm known for its niche expertise across cloud & data, business systems, and e-commerce. This strategic move will expand TalentoHC’s existing footprint in the technology sector and launch, as well as strengthen, its technology search & staffing service lines. “The combination of TalentoHC’s talent acquisition expertise with R2’s deep technical focus marks an exciting new chapter for both organizations,” said Juan Gaitan, CEO of TalentoHC, based in Coral Gables, FL. “R2’s agile approach to technology staffing and recruiting aligns perfectly with our mission to deliver tailored recruitment solutions. Together, as R2 Powered by Talento, we are positioned to become a premier go-to partner for IT talent and innovation,” he added. “TalentoHC and R2 Global customers will benefit tremendously from the portfolio of human capital offerings that the combined organizations now provide,” said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO and co-founder of Hunt Scanlon Ventures.
Global talent advisory firm ZRG has acquired Aspen Leadership Group, a search firm focused on placing and supporting top fundraising leaders and executive talent in educational institutions and the broader non-profit sector. “The addition of Aspen Leadership Group is nothing short of transformative,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “Their expertise in development and advancement is the perfect complement to our growing education practice, and as we roll into 2025 we are unlocking the collective power of these exceptional niche businesses under the unified banner of ZRG’s education practice, creating unmatched solutions for academic and non-profit leadership.” Aspen Leadership Group, established in 2013, conducts a wide range of searches across the fundraising, education and non-profit sector and is widely considered the eminent leader in its field. Its clients include Brown University, PBS, Robin Hood, the Humane Society of the United States, the Leakey Foundation, Carnegie Mellon University, and the Denver Zoological Foundation, among others.
Talento Human Capital (TalentoHC) has acquired The PeterSan Group and PeterSan Legal Staffing. The merger brings expertise in legal recruiting to TalentoHC’s customer experience model and comprehensive human capital services, including retained executive search, professional and management recruiting, RPO, staff augmentation, and human capital consulting. Managing partners Peter Gosule, Peter Goldfeder, and Sandy Friedman of The PeterSan Group will lead the TalentoLegal business unit from New York City, where the firm has been rooted for three decades. “The PeterSan transaction fits in well with our platform strategy as we build onto our customer-centric model and expand our industry and functional vertical focus,” said Juan Gaitan, CEO of TalentoHC, based in Coral Gables, FL. “The intersection of these two approaches will create opportunities for continued growth and value for our customers, candidates, associates and shareholders.”
ZRG acquired Jamesbeck, a New York City-based recruitment firm specializing in senior-level talent for the broad investment management community across private market and traditional firms. “This strategic move aims to establish ZRG’s presence in asset management and will support the firm’s existing private markets clients by adding a new channel for senior roles at the management company level across investments, product, and fundraising,” said ZRG. “Jamesbeck has been at the forefront of decisive changes that have impacted asset management leadership for more than two decades,” said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO of Hunt Scanlon Ventures. “The firm’s acquisition by ZRG will be beneficial to clients across the global investment management space who have come to rely on its network, judgment and guidance around senior-level leadership talent,” he noted. Jamesbeck specializes in the investment management industry across public and private markets. The firm recruits senior-level talent across investing, distribution, product and C-suite positions on behalf of a range of clients from boutiques to the largest multi-product organizations. Jamesbeck’s Melissa Norris, managing partner, and Beth Rustin, founding partner, will become the co-heads of asset management search at ZRG.
Related: How Search Firms are Winning Through M&A and Unlocking Value
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
