ZRG Partners Launches New Digital Executive Recruiting Platform
October 31, 2019 – ZRG Partners, a fast growing executive search firm, has continued its expansion with the launch of the Z intelligence (Zi) platform, a digital platform designed to transform how companies conduct senior-level executive recruiting.
“The way companies work with executive recruiting firms to hire leaders has not fundamentally changed in decades,” said Larry Hartmann, CEO of ZRG Partners. “Meanwhile, every other part of the business world has embraced data, analytics and technology enhancement. Our new digital Zi talent hiring platform combines talent intelligence, candidate insights and process improvement to dramatically deliver executive searches quicker and with proven better results.”
ZRG reports that its Zi platform is a refined and upgraded digital version of the company’s Z score process that has been a key differentiator in the market for nearly two decades. Although the methodology is the same, the firm has spent the last year developing this proprietary software that has proven to reduce the cycle time for recruitment by 30 percent with an increase in overall effectiveness.
The firm has specialties in global executive recruiting, innovative outsourcing and fact-based hiring. It has particular expertise in the following industries: aerospace, board services, consumer, cybersecurity and digital intelligence, education, financial services, healthcare, industrial, life sciences, nonprofit, private equity, technology, real estate and insurance.
“ZRG has been at the front of providing clients with data and analytics to drive better hiring,” said Mark Cummings, head of marketing for ZRG. “The next generation of digital executive search combines real time collaboration with our clients to not only enhance the speed and the results of the hiring process.”
“Executive search has traditionally been a slow process, yet our clients are cutting four to six weeks off the traditional executive search timeline by using our digital platform to change how hiring is done,” he said.
Growth via Acquisition
ZRG has experienced a wave of expansion in 2019. Here is an abridged overview of the firm’s growth from the Hunt Scanlon Media archives:
In July, ZRG acquired London-headquartered search firm Holker Watkin. The firm now operate as a ZRG company, focused on supporting client needs for senior-level strategy professionals on a retained and interim project basis. The transaction is expected to add $11 million in annual revenues to ZRG and bolster ZRG’s direct presence in Europe. Holker Watkin president and founder Justin Holker will continue in his role leading the business as a ZRG company.
In June, the firm acquired certain assets of executive search firm Fiore Global Search. As part of the asset acquisition agreement, Adam Fiore, formerly the managing partner and CEO of Fiore Global Search, will be joining ZRG as a managing director within the life sciences practice area. Fiore Global Search was founded by Mr. Fiore in 2011 and has completed hundreds of C-suite, VP, and medical director roles for Fortune 500 pharmaceutical and mid-sized, global biotechnology companies.
ZRG Partners Taps New Funding, Eyes Further Growth
Backed by a new investment partner, ZRG Partners has recapitalized. The search firm, already undergoing rapid expansion, looks to build on its core strategy as well as broaden its services through strategic acquisitions. Here’s the backstory.
In May, ZRG acquired certain assets of Dowd Associates, an executive search firm focused on the financial officer’s space. As part of the asset purchase agreement, Dowd Associates’ president and CEO Rich Dowd joined ZRG as a managing director. Mr. Dowd has over 20 years of experience in executive search. In addition to being a known subject-matter expert in treasury search, he also has deep experience in VPs of finance, controller and CFO search work. He becomes a member of ZRG’s financial officer’s practice.
The firm began the year by adding Frederick Lamster as a managing director and a retail sector specialist within its growing consumer practice. ZRG described the move as part of a strategy and commitment to accelerate its ability to serve a wider range of clients within the global consumer landscape. Prior to joining ZRG, Mr. Lamster was a partner with Battalia Winston, where he provided retained search and organizational consulting to clients in the retail sector.
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief; Dale M. Zupsansky, Managing Editor; Stephen Sawicki, Managing Editor; and Andrew W. Mitchell, Managing Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
