CEO Larry Hartmann Opens Up On ZRG’s Latest Strategic Acquisition
Article by Caleb Edmundson
In this ExitUp exclusive, editor-in-chief Caleb Edmundson sits down with ZRG CEO Larry Hartmann to discuss his blockbuster acquisition of The Registry, a leading interim solutions provider and ZRG’s largest purchase to date.
Larry Hartmann is a seasoned veteran of the people business. As the chief executive of ZRG, he leads one of the fastest growing, global talent management hubs in the human capital sector.
It wasn’t always this way. Larry founded ZRG 24 years ago on the core principle of building a better recruiting platform. Simple enough. Today, that vision has extended to a $230 million data-driven suite of talent and consulting offerings, including culture transformation, leadership assessment, executive coaching, strategic communications, RPO, and interim solutions. The firm is a perennial leader in Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 rankings.
ZRG’s expansion effort, according to rivals, has been swift and strategic. Less than a year ago, ZRG secured a secondary equity investment from a consortium of new and existing institutional investors led by Timber Bay Partners. It has used that capital and an expanded credit facility to continue an acquisition journey that has produced 11 deals over the past four years.
Worth the Wait
ZRG’s acquisition of The Registry three months ago was its most complicated and drawn-out transaction to date. Through a unique membership-based network, The Registry has helped over 500 colleges and universities find temporary – or interim – leaders during times of leadership transition. In its category, The Registry stands alone with virtually no competition and insatiable demand for its services.
“Calls for interim leaders are gaining wider traction as demographics shift and talent needs change,” said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO of Hunt Scanlon Ventures based in Greenwich, Conn., which facilitated the transaction and served as a strategic advisor to both firms. “Our belief is the next war for talent will take place among the gig workforce. That is the opportunity we sold Larry on, and he and his senior management team are now poised to capitalize on that,” he noted.
In the following interview, Larry Hartmann takes us inside the deal – ZRG’s largest transaction to date. He reflects on how the deal came together, the challenges of aligning around the unique needs of founders, the importance of setting realistic expectations, the critical role of integration, why empathy matters in M&A, and the role perseverance and patience played in bringing the deal to a successful conclusion.
CEO LARRY HARTMANN OPENS UP ON ZRG’S LATEST STRATEGIC ACQUISITION
By, Caleb Edmundson |
In this ExitUp exclusive, editor-in-chief Caleb Edmundson sits down with ZRG CEO Larry Hartmann to discuss his blockbuster acquisition of The Registry, a leading interim solutions provider and ZRG’s largest purchase to date.
Larry Hartmann is a seasoned veteran of the people business. As the chief executive of ZRG, he leads one of the fastest growing, global talent management hubs in the human capital sector.
It wasn’t always this way. Larry founded ZRG 24 years ago on the core principle of building a better recruiting platform. Simple enough. Today, that vision has extended to a $230 million data-driven suite of talent and consulting offerings, including culture transformation, leadership assessment, executive coaching, strategic communications, RPO, and interim solutions. The firm is a perennial leader in Hunt Scanlon’s Top 10 rankings.
ZRG’s expansion effort, according to rivals, has been swift and strategic. Less than a year ago, ZRG secured a secondary equity investment from a consortium of new and existing institutional investors led by Timber Bay Partners. It has used that capital and an expanded credit facility to continue an acquisition journey that has produced 11 deals over the past four years.
Worth the Wait
ZRG’s acquisition of The Registry three months ago was its most complicated and drawn-out transaction to date. Through a unique membership-based network, The Registry has helped over 500 colleges and universities find temporary – or interim – leaders during times of leadership transition. In its category, The Registry stands alone with virtually no competition and insatiable demand for its services.
“Calls for interim leaders are gaining wider traction as demographics shift and talent needs change,” said Scott A. Scanlon, CEO of Hunt Scanlon Ventures based in Greenwich, Conn., which facilitated the transaction and served as a strategic advisor to both firms. “Our belief is the next war for talent will take place among the gig workforce. That is the opportunity we sold Larry on, and he and his senior management team are now poised to capitalize on that,” he noted.
In the following interview, Larry Hartmann takes us inside the deal – ZRG’s largest transaction to date. He reflects on how the deal came together, the challenges of aligning around the unique needs of founders, the importance of setting realistic expectations, the critical role of integration, why empathy matters in M&A, and the role perseverance and patience played in bringing the deal to a successful conclusion.
HIRE AN INTERIM
Searching for an Interim?
Please contact us for more information.
