WilsonHCG Secures $120 Million in Funding from 3i Group
February 23, 2021 – Investors are pouring money into recruiting solutions businesses. British-based 3i Group recently agreed to invest $120 million of equity in global talent solutions provider Wilson Human Capital Group (WilsonHCG). Based in Tampa, FL, WilsonHCG provides a full suite of configurable talent solutions including recruitment process outsourcing (RPO), executive search, contingent talent solutions and talent consulting. The firm has operated as a strategic partner to some of the world’s top brands in helping them plan and execute on talent acquisition on a global basis.
“We have known the 3i team for a number of years and they have demonstrated a clear commitment to investing in our space,” said John Wilson, founder and CEO. “There is a strong cultural fit between our organizations and a shared ambition to continue building WilsonHCG into the global talent solutions leader. Further, 3i’s international network will enable us to continue expanding our already global footprint so we can serve our customers in even more international locations.” 3i partner and managing director Andrew Olinick, co-head of the PE and infrastructure firm’s North America private equity team and global head of business and technology services, said his firm has been tracking the RPO space and WilsonHCG for several years. “WilsonHCG’s high-performance culture and deep commitment to driving superior outcomes for its clients give us conviction that the company will continue to grow rapidly in its markets,” he said. “The business is highly regarded and is continuing its international expansion journey, following the recent acquisition of Profile in Asia, where we see the opportunity for WilsonHCG to serve its clients across all talent acquisition solutions.”
High Performance
WilsonHCG is widely known for its high-performance culture including its core values of collaboration, ownership, integrity, passion and communication. The company is recognized as a leader by various industry trade associations such as HRO Today, Everest Group, NelsonHall and SIA and has also won a Gold Stevie Award and the Best Onsite RPO award in recent years. It has offices throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. The firm’s presence spans more than 65 countries and six continents. It has more than 700 employees serving clients across six continents and 40 countries.
The recruitment process outsourcing sector, which is one of WilsonHCG’s core areas of focus, has grown at a double-digit growth rate due to continued outsourcing adoption by new clients, further penetration with existing clients and increased hiring driven by greater employee mobility.
London-based 3i has two complementary businesses, private equity and infrastructure, specializing in core investment markets in Northern Europe and North America. The firm’s PE team provides investment solutions for growing companies, backing entrepreneurs and management teams of mid-market companies with an EV typically between €100m – €500m. The firm backs international growth plans, providing access to our network and expertise to accelerate the growth of companies across the consumer, industrial, healthcare and business and technology services industries.
Growing Globally
In 2017, WilsonHCG secured funding from private equity firm CIP Capital. The investment has enabled WilsonHCG to accelerate global growth and strengthen its talent solutions and technologies.
ZRG Acquires Turnkey Search
ZRG has made a major move into the sports, entertainment & media sectors by acquiring Turnkey Search. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Renamed TurnkeyZRG, all Turnkey staff and assets merge into ZRG and the firm will continue to be led by Len Perna, the founder, chairman, and CEO of Turnkey. Turnkey will now adopt ZRG’s tech-enabled, data-driven approach to the search process which it says will give the newly merged firm a competitive edge in the hunt for sports, media, and entertainment talent. Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG, called the deal a “blockbuster acquisition.”
Following this funding, WilsonHCG expanded with the addition of a new office in Bucharest, Romania. “Although we continue to expand our offices in Krakow, Poland, and London and Manchester in the U.K., since our inception in 2002 we have strived to have the best talent on our team,” said Mr. Wilson at the time. “After much research, we were very impressed with the high level of talent in Bucharest. Its thriving business sector, access to great talent and multilingual culture gives us further capabilities to support our clients across Europe and the globe.”
“Top talent is a major factor to a company’s success, and our unique, innovative and consultative approach to hiring that talent is why organizations across the world partner with us,” he said.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; and Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
