One of the world's leading talent advisory and solutions company
Adecco Group AG, along with its subsidiaries, is a leading provider of human resource services across multiple regions, including Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, South America, and North Africa. The company offers a wide range of services to businesses and organizations to meet their workforce needs. These services include flexible placement, permanent placement, outsourcing, training, upskilling and reskilling, career transition and workforce transformation, technology consulting and talent, tech academy, digital staffing services, and talent advisory and solutions.
The company operates under various brand names, including Adecco, Adia, General Assembly, Badenoch + Clark, LHH, pontoon, Spring, and Modis, each specializing in different aspects of human resource management. Additionally, Adecco Group AG operates Hired, a talent recruitment platform that connects employers with qualified candidates.
With a strong global presence, Adecco Group AG operates approximately 4,300 branches in 59 countries and territories as of December 31, 2021. The company, originally known as Adecco S.A., was founded in 1957 and is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland. By leveraging its extensive network, comprehensive service offerings, and technological solutions, Adecco Group AG continues to play a pivotal role in helping businesses and organizations effectively manage their workforce and talent needs.
In 1957, Adia was founded by Henri Lavanchy in Lausanne, Switzerland. Seven years later, in 1964, Ecco was established in Lyon, France by Philippe Foriel-Destezet. These two personnel services firms grew steadily over the years, and in 1996, they decided to merge, forming a global company with combined annualized revenues of €5.4 billion. This merger allowed them to consolidate their operations, creating a vast network of 2,500 branches and employing 250,000 staff members.
The Adecco Group, as the merged entity was called, continued to expand its presence in the industry. In 2000, they acquired Olsten Staffing, which significantly boosted their revenues to €11.6 billion. Recognizing the need for effective management, the company consolidated its businesses and established divisions to streamline operations in 2002.
By 2005, The Adecco Group had successfully expanded across six professional business lines, solidifying its position as a leading global workforce solutions provider. In 2006, they further enhanced their capabilities through the acquisition of DIS AG in Germany, with Dieter Scheiff assuming the role of chief executive officer and Dominik de Daniel becoming the chief financial officer.
The following year, the annual shareholders' meeting approved Jürgen Dormann, a former vice chairman, as the chairman of the board. Rolf Dörig took on the role of vice-chairman. In 2008, the company mourned the loss of Klaus J. Jacobs, the founder and honorary president of The Adecco Group. Consequently, Jürgen Dormann stepped down as chairman of the board of directors.
In 2009, Rolf Dörig took over as chairman, while Patrick De Maeseneire assumed the position of chief executive officer from Dieter Scheiff. During this time, The Adecco Group expanded its reach by acquiring Spring Group in the UK and making an offer for MPS Group. The acquisition of MPS Group was completed in 2010, and The Adecco Group also established a joint venture in Shanghai with Chinese HR services company Fesco.
2011 marked the commencement of operations for FESCO Adecco, a joint venture formed with Fesco in China. The same year, The Adecco Group announced the acquisition of Drake Beam Morin, Inc., a prominent US-based company specializing in career transition services. The company continued its expansion in 2012 by acquiring VSN Inc., a provider of professional staffing services in Japan.
In 2014, The Adecco Group acquired OnForce, a move that expanded its Beeline service offering and created a unique integrated solution for managing contingent workforces. Additionally, the majority of the Jacobs Group's 18% stake in The Adecco Group was sold. Further growth ensued in 2015 when The Adecco Group acquired Knightsbridge Human Capital Solutions, a Canadian company offering a range of talent and leadership development services.
Leadership changes occurred in 2015, as Alain Dehaze took over as chief executive officer from Patrick De Maeseneire. The following year, The Adecco Group closed the acquisition of Penna Consulting Plc, a UK company providing career transition and talent development services. In 2017, the global headquarters of The Adecco Group relocated from Glattbrugg to Bellerivestrasse in Zürich.
Continuing its expansion strategy, The Adecco Group acquired General Assembly and Vettery in 2018, further strengthening its portfolio. In 2019, the company divested its healthcare staffing business, Soliant Health, by selling it to Olympus Partners for a cash consideration of US$612 million.
In the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, The Adecco Group demonstrated its commitment to helping companies navigate the crisis by forming an alliance with Randstad BV and ManpowerGroup. This alliance launched new guidance for a safe return to work. Moreover, Jean-Christophe Deslarzes was appointed as the chair of the board of directors in April 2020.
In 2022, The Adecco Group announced that Denis Machuel would succeed Alain Dehaze as the new chief executive officer, with his tenure beginning on July 1, 2022. These developments reflect The Adecco Group's ongoing commitment to delivering innovative workforce solutions and maintaining its position as a global industry leader.
“At The Adecco Group, we strive to cultivate and nurture leaders who have a meaningful impact on our people, customers, partners, and the communities we serve. Our leaders inspire and motivate their teams to act with compassion and intelligence, always striving to do what is right. They are curious global citizens who are dedicated to making a positive difference. Our focus is on creating an exceptional work environment that enables our teams to perform at their best and reach their full potential. We empower our leaders with the freedom to innovate.”
The mission and vision statements of the Adecco Group reflect the company's strong commitment to leadership, innovation, and making a positive impact on its stakeholders. The mission statement highlights the importance of attracting and developing leaders who inspire their teams to perform at their best, while also emphasizing the creation of a great workplace. The focus on innovation further reinforces the company's dedication to staying at the forefront of the industry.
"Our vision is to break barriers, challenge conventional thinking, and create a brighter future for all. We constantly strive to push boundaries, explore new possibilities, and exceed expectations in everything we do."
The vision statement sets an ambitious tone, emphasizing the company's desire to push boundaries, challenge conformity, and deliver better futures. It reflects a commitment to continuous improvement and a forward-thinking approach to addressing the evolving needs of the market and its clients.
The company's values of passion, entrepreneurship, responsibility, team spirit, and customer focus align well with its mission and vision. These values provide a clear framework for the behaviours and actions expected from employees, promoting a culture of excellence, collaboration, and strong customer orientation.
The Adecco Group offers a wide range of products and services to meet the diverse workforce needs of businesses and organizations. Some of the key offerings include:
In addition to these core offerings, the Adecco Group operates various brands and subsidiaries that specialize in different sectors and industries, such as General Assembly for digital skills training, Badenoch + Clark for professional recruitment, and Modis for IT and engineering staffing.
