HeadFirst and Impellam merge to expand STEM talent, HR tech
NETHERLANDS and UNITED KINGDOM — Full-service human resource solutions provider HeadFirst Group and recruitment company Impellam Group have joined forces to offer STEM talent pool solutions and managed services.
“In a world where talent and tech must come together to build better businesses, we will collaborate to leverage the combined strength and capability of our market-leading brands, our people, and our distinctive technology,” said Impellam CEO Julia Robertson, who will also be the chief of the enlarged group.
The deal was first announced in December 2023 after news of the potential transaction was leaked in July 2023. Initial discussions were reported in the summer of 2022 following the announcement by Impellam’s majority shareholder, Lord Ashcroft, that he was exploring the possibility of selling his stake.
The expanded group now has €8 billion (US$8.6 billion) in spend under management, 2,100 expert colleagues, and over 75,000 professionals serving customers worldwide. The two firms’ operations will not experience immediate changes.
The group will offer HR services to digital, information technology, data, life sciences, clinical, and engineering segments.
Its new board members include Han Kolff, non-executive chairman; Julia Robertson, group CEO; Tim Briant, group CFO; Marion van Happen, CEO of HeadFirst Group; and Koen Bekkering and Boyd Sleeman, non-executive directors and co-founders.
Additionally, Lord Ashcroft, the former majority shareholder of Impellam Group, will serve as a non-executive director on the board after the deal is completed.
Headquartered in Hoofddorp, Netherlands, HeadFirst Group offers a wide range of HR solutions, such as managed service providing, recruitment process outsourcing, IT sourcing & recruitment, and HR consultancy with over 500 clients across Europe.
Meanwhile, Impellam Group offers workforce and STEM talent solutions to firms across the UK and North America. It claims to fill over 26,500 STEM vacancies yearly and harness 2,900 supplier relationships.
