Ep2 – Accelerating Strategic Growth through M&As with Peter Zukow

Recruitment Transactions International is the first global matching platform for buyers, investors and sellers in the recruitment and staffing industry.  In our second podcast, RTI Director Simon Childs speaks with Peter Zukow on “Accelerating Strategic Growth through M&As” in the Recruitment and Staffing sector.

Peter is a business builder with an extraordinary track record of delivering results and positive outcomes for key stakeholders, including leveraging M&As to fast-track strategic growth.  As an executive search leader with close to 30 years in the recruiting and staffing space, he is a trusted advisor to clients, colleagues, and business partners.

Some key points of discussion:

[00:08]  – Introduction

[03:54]  – Overview of M&A activity in Canada and North America 

[05:18]  – Case Sharing: Exit from Lock Search

[06:46]  – Unique Valuation Structure

     – Partner Succession, Equity

[08:01]  – Case Sharing: Optimum Talent & Conroy Ross

     – Integrating different service lines: executive search, career transition / outplacement

    – Creating a full suite of talent management service

[10:49]  – Case Sharing: Acquisition by AJ Gallagher

             – Partnering with corporate finance and external advisory firms to go to market

             – Broadening the buyer profiles and zeroing in on three shortlisted buyers

             – COVID: Making the transaction happen in the middle of a pandemic

[14:00]  – An insurance brokerage firm: Not a typical strategic acquirer in recruitment & staffing space

     – Service line expansion

     – Synergy in client mix, expertise and consultant collaborations

     – Successful post merger integration

[18:36]  – Unique deal multiples by an acquirer that’s a publicly traded company 

[20:33]  – In hindsight, what would you have done differently?

[23:09]  – Closing