ZRG Acquires Linked4HR Solutions’ Executive Interim & HR Advisory Services
September 5, 2024 – ZRG, a global talent advisory firm and portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, has acquired Linked4HR Solutions’ executive interim & HR advisory services in the Middle East and Africa (MENA) region. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. With the acquisition the firm added Hicham Hachkal as managing director for interim and HR advisory. “We are thrilled to have Hicham Hachkal join our team at ZRG,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “His extensive experience, strong educational background, and successful track record in HR leadership and interim executive placement will be invaluable as we expand our presence and capabilities in the Middle East and Africa. Hicham’s leadership and vision align perfectly with our commitment to delivering world-class talent solutions to our clients.”
Mr. Hachkal is a seasoned human resources executive with a career spanning over 25 years, marked by leadership in diverse, multinational environments. As the founder and CEO of Linked4HR, he has leveraged his expertise to drive HR consulting and interim executive placements across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe.
Previously, Mr. Hicham served as interim executive consultant at Valtus, a European executive interim firm, where he led the transformation of a start-up into a global institute. In addition, his role as vice president of human resources at Borr Drilling saw him spearhead strategic HR initiatives that drove significant growth globally, including a successful U.S. listing. “With past roles at Seadrill, BG Group (now part of SHELL), and Schlumberger, Mr. Hicham has consistently demonstrated his ability to manage large-scale HR operations, drive business transformation, and enhance organizational effectiveness across multiple regions,” ZRG said.
“I am delighted to be part of ZRG Partners,” said Mr. Hachkal. “My experience as an HR leader across various countries and industries, combined with my successful entrepreneurship journey with Linked4HR, has prepared me for this next chapter. I am now thrilled to join forces with ZRG Partners to reach new heights and continue delivering exceptional value to our clients.”
The acquisition comes on the heels of ZRG completing a $120 million debt raise with Main Street Capital, underscoring the firm’s commitment to growth and its mission to be a disruptive force in the talent advisory and executive recruiting sector. “This significant funding will bolster ZRG’s growth initiatives and enhance its ability to deliver innovative talent solutions to clients worldwide,” the firm said. “It is a great time to acquire niche talent advisory and management businesses and build out our capabilities across executive search, interim, RPO, and consulting,” said Mr. Hartmann. “This additional financing from Main Street Capital, combined with our recent equity raise with a consortium of investors, positions us strongly to achieve our strategic objectives.”
Related: ZRG Acquires Wiser Partners
ZRG, founded in 1999, is a mid-sized global executive search firm and one of the fastest growing in the search industry. It provides a full suite of executive, middle management, and customized search solutions through its offices in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. The firm finds leaders across a broad spectrum of business markets, including aerospace, consumer, education, healthcare services, and solutions, industrial, life sciences, non-profit, private equity and venture capital, and technology. ZRG is based in Rochelle Park, NJ.
Recent Acquisition
In July, 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. Hunt Scanlon Ventures, a Greenwich, Connecticut-based human capital M&A advisory firm, served as an advisor to ZRG. “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.
Inside The Deal: CEO Larry Hartmann Opens Up On ZRG’s Latest Strategic Acquisition
Larry Hartmann is a seasoned veteran of the people business. As the chief executive of ZRG, he leads one of the fastest growing, global talent management hubs in the human capital sector. It wasn’t always this way. Larry founded ZRG 24 years ago on the core principle of building a better recruiting platform. Simple enough. Today, that vision has extended to a $230 million data-driven suite of talent and consulting offerings, including culture transformation, leadership assessment, executive coaching, strategic communications, RPO, and interim solutions.
“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.
“The acquisition of Jamesbeck is a game-changer for ZRG,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “This takes us to a new level in financial services and more specifically investment management and enhances our ability to support private markets firms at both the portfolio company level and the management company level. Our goal is to be a leading partner in all talent matters for private markets firms globally, and this acquisition is a significant step in that direction.”
Related: ZRG Acquires Ignata Finance Group in the U.K.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
