WhiteCrow Acquires Armstrong Craven
April 15, 2024 – Talent research provider WhiteCrow has acquired U.K. headquartered search firm Armstrong Craven. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “This partnership signifies a remarkable milestone in our commitment to delivering unparalleled talent solutions on a truly global scale. We are thrilled to welcome Armstrong Craven to the WhiteCrow family and look forward to maximizing the opportunities that lie ahead,” said Prems Srampical, founder of WhiteCrow.
With a collective global footprint spanning key regions, including the U.S., the U.K., Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Dubai, India, Singapore, and Hong Kong, Armstrong Craven and WhiteCrow offer a suite of customizable services.
“Joining forces with WhiteCrow enables us to offer our valued clients an even broader range of services, expertise and global reach,” said Rachel Davis, CEO of Armstrong Craven. “This partnership reinforces our dedication to delivering exceptional solutions tailored to the evolving needs of the HR and talent acquisition landscape.”
“We are committed to providing our clients with unmatched capabilities and look forward to leveraging our combined strengths to drive innovation and excellence in talent research,” said Mr. Srampical.
Armstrong Craven provides a number of unique services and solutions to clients, including talent mapping and pipelining. Over 85 percent of Armstrong Craven’s work comes through professional recommendations from its clients, which include some of the worlds’ most recognizable companies, including Microsoft, GSK, Coca Cola and Bank of America. As a global talent partner, the firm’s team has fluency in 25 languages from its offices in Manchester, London, Geneva, Singapore and New York.
Recent M&A Activity
Acquisitions and consolidations continue to make news in the recruiting industry, with a number of notable purchases in recent months. Here is a sampling from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
ZRG, a global talent advisory firm and portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, has acquired Ignata Finance Group, a U.K.-based executive search & finance recruitment and interim placement business. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “Partnering with Ignata will enable our European growth strategy both in private equity but across our shared global customers, especially in the U.K.,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “Adding Ignata to the family of ZRG companies puts us another step closer to true global talent advisory.” Founded in 2017, Ignata partners with VC, PE, and listed organizations seeking chief financial officers and their teams. “We continue our commitment to build a world-class business, employing passionate consultants that are experts in their fields. The partnership with ZRG marks a pivotal moment in our global expansion,” said Ben Searls, founder of Ignata. “By joining forces with ZRG, we are not only enhancing our C-suite capabilities but also broadening our reach internationally.”
Paris-headquartered search firm Alexander Hughes has acquired Chicago-based DSML Executive Search. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “The move marks a significant milestone in Alexander Hughes’ global growth strategy, positioning the firm as the global executive search and leadership firm of choice for businesses and corporations worldwide,” the search firm said. “The acquisition includes two new offices, one in Chicago and one in Boston.” In addition, Alexander Hughes will retain Myriam Le Cannellier, co-founder and director of DSML Executive Search, who becomes the managing partner of Alexander Hughes USA, and her team of experienced executive search professionals. “This acquisition marks a pivotal moment for our group,” said Julien Rozet, CEO of Alexander Hughes. “We are very proud to strengthen our presence in the U.S. and to have Myriam Le Cannellier and her team at the helm. Her expertise aligns perfectly with our commitment to deliver the highest standard of executive search and leadership advisory services globally.”
The Elevate Sports Ventures agency has acquired SRI and launched Elevate Talent, a new executive search and global talent advisory practice. The new firm will recruit senior leaders across sports, entertainment, media, lifestyle, technology, and gaming. Elevate is led by Al Guido, who also serves as president of the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers. Jim Chaplin, formerly CEO of SRI, will become global president of Elevate Talent. In his 14 years at the helm of SRI, Mr. Chaplin and his management team have spearheaded the firm’s transformation from a U.K.-based sports specialist firm to a global company in the executive search space, helping organizations with board structure, governance, and C-suite issues with talent and advisory solutions. “For the team at SRI, becoming part of Elevate feels like a perfect match,” said Mr. Chaplin. “We share a foundation in the world of sports and have used that particular vantage point to deliver for clients across a wide range of consumer-facing sectors. Our common experience, aligned to a rigorous, data-driven approach, gives us the tools to set organizations up for success.”
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