ZRG Acquires Wiser Partners
March 14, 2024 – ZRG, a global talent advisory firm and portfolio company of RFE Investment Partners, has acquired Wiser Partners, a retained executive search firm headquartered in Cincinnati, OH, with offices across the U.S. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. “By welcoming Wiser Partners, ZRG gains valuable experience in working with marketing, sales, and analytics senior executives at Fortune 100 consumer packaged goods companies, PE-owned, VC-backed, and family-owned firms,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG. “Adding Wiser Partners to the family of ZRG companies helps take us to another, higher level in our functional expertise in this area.”
Founded nearly 30 years ago, Wiser Partners’ searches are focused on functional roles in marketing leadership and in go to market positions across industries with a strong track record in the consumer markets. Since 1994, Wiser Partners focuses more on functional expertise versus industry specialization. The firm’s clients range from Fortune 100 corporations to private equity-owned, VC-backed, and family-held companies. Wiser has offices in Cincinnati, OH, Columbia, SC, New York, Stamford, CT, Sacramento, CA, Austin, TX, Minneapolis, MN, Raleigh ,NC, Charlotte, NC, and Naples, FL.
“ZRG shares our boutique approach, including the way we engage clients, and how we focus on delivering a quality experience for our clients,” said Wiser Partners managing partner and founder David Wiser. “We are excited and honored to be part of the global ZRG family where we can now support our clients with a global team and with a broader product set to solve our clients’ human capital challenges.”
Related: ZRG Acquires Turnkey Search
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.
Past Acquisitions
ZRG recently acquired The Registry, a Peabody, MA-based interim executive solutions firm specializing in higher education. “The Registry is the nation’s top firm providing the best-matched interim solutions to institutions of higher learning, especially colleges and universities that are going through challenging transitions,” said Mr. Hartmann. “Adding The Registry to the family of ZRG companies puts us in a leadership position in providing talent solutions in higher education.”
ZRG Acquires Ignata Finance Group in the U.K.
ZRG 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.”
Since 1992, The Registry has helped colleges and universities across the U.S. and abroad during times of transition with experienced and diverse interim leaders. The firm has recorded 1,200 placements at over 500 institutions of all types. In 2002, Dr. Carlson and Mr. Matthews founded Collegiate Enterprise Solutions (CES) LLC, at which time they acquired The Registry for College and University Presidents. Since that time, Dr. Carlson has served as president of The Registry. Under the leadership of Dr. Carlson and Mr. Matthews as chancellor, The Registry has experienced sustained growth and expansion. Today, with a membership of 1,000-plus, The Registry continues to be a top firm in the interim executive space in higher education.
Prior to The Registry acquisition, ZRG diversified its talent management offerings in the past two years. In June, ZRG acquired Helbling, a national executive search firm with relationships among construction contractors and real estate developers. Last December, the firm acquired Hub Recruiting, a boutique recruiting process outsourcing (RPO) firm. In November, ZRG purchased SEBA International, a retained executive search firm focused on finance, risk, marketing, and revenue roles. In April of last year, the firm acquired RoseRyan, a Silicon Valley-based provider of finance and accounting consulting solutions. Also that month, ZRG added Terra Search Partners, a retained executive search firm exclusive to the real estate industry.
Related: ZRG Acquires Walking the Talk
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor; Lily Fauver, Senior Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
