Archer Mathieson and BIE Interim Executive, sister companies within The Cornhill Partnership, have announced plans to merge from April. The new, as yet un-named business will be led by current BIE chief executive Rob Walker. Archer Mathieson’s current chief executive Richard Wright will relinquish his role from April and will pursue another opportunity later in the year. Cornhill will make a separate announcement about this shortly.
The newly enlarged business will offer both specialised, senior-level search and interim services. The search practice will continue to follow Archer Mathieson’s ‘multi-specialist’ approach, covering finance, human resources and supply-chain/logistics. Rob Walker says the merger supports Cornhill’s long term strategy:
“This is in line with our Group strategy to operate in a ‘multi-specialist’ model, exploiting market synergies through cross-selling and the use of shared, central services. We think the time is right for this move and that clients will welcome the development. Markets are never static and, as two organisations that help clients achieve their own change and transformation agendas, we too must adapt and change.
“The merger decision was driven by numerous factors. We wanted to end the overlap from a client perspective. And as one combined company, clients gain access to more services under one roof and a wider, deeper, higher-quality talent pool than before. In a single organisation we can better concentrate our marketing and focus our consultants as one, mutually-supportive team. It also gives us greater scale; the critical mass to grow and to do that faster than we could separately.”
Two industry observers familiar with both companies and the market they operate in have welcomed the news. Richard Smelt, non-executive director at Hays Plc and former group HR director at Northern Rock Plc said:
“I don’t think this move will surprise anyone and I completely see the logic. The gap between search and interim has narrowed over recent years; organisations see interim increasingly as a very credible way of resourcing. It makes complete sense to bring these two offerings together within one brand.”
Leo McKee, chief executive officer of nationwide retail chain BrightHouse adds:
“BIE and Archer Mathieson are two excellent businesses. The combination makes complete sense as the single-stop option for hiring executives.”
Commenting on Richard Wright’s departure, Rob Walker said:
“Richard Wright has done a tremendous job over the last two years. His final task is to see us through this merger before he takes up his next role.”
