Robert Walters plc

{{Short description|British recruitment company}}

{{Infobox company

| name = Robert Walters plc

| logo = Robert_Walters_Logo.jpg

| logo_size =

| type = Public

| traded_as = {{LSE|RWA}}

| key_people =Leslie Van de Walle (Chairman)
Toby Fowlston (Chief Executive Officer)

| industry = Recruitment

| revenue ={{decrease}} £892.1 million (2024){{cite web|url=https://www.robertwalters.com/content/dam/robert-walters-redesign/global/files/investors/2025/RWA%20FY24%20results%20statement_FINAL.pdf|title=Annual Results 2024|publisher=Robert Walters|access-date=6 March 2025}}

| operating_income ={{decrease}} £5.2 million (2024)

| net_income ={{decrease}} £(6.0) million (2024)

| num_employees =

| subsid = Robert Walters
Resource Solutions
Walters People

| footnotes =

| foundation = {{start date and age|1985}}

| hq_location = London, England

| homepage = {{URL|https://robertwalters.com}}

}}

Robert Walters plc is a British recruitment company that focuses on placing professionals into permanent, contract and temporary positions. Established in 1985 by founder Robert Walters, the company has branches in 31 countries.{{Cite web |title=Robert Walters - Global Specialist Professional Recruitment |url=https://www.robertwalters.com |access-date=8 July 2024 |publisher=Robert Walters |language=en-GB}}

History

The company was established by a recruitment professional, Robert Walters, in 1985.{{Cite news |last=Anilkumar |first=Radhika |date=3 October 2023 |title=Robert Walters to retire from eponymous hiring firm he founded in 80s |language=en |work=Reuters |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/recruiter-robert-walters-boss-step-down-2023-03-10/ |access-date=7 February 2024}}

Originally established to place accountants in London, the company now recruits across multiple disciplines. In July 1996, it was listed on the London Stock Exchange.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-13 |title=Robert Walters Share Price - LON:RWA Stock Research |url=https://www.stockopedia.com/share-prices/robert-walters-LON:RWA/ |access-date=7 February 2024|website=Stockopedia |language=en-gb}} A year later in 1997, it set up a wholly-owned subsidiary, Resource Solutions, offering recruitment process outsourcing services.

The company acquired Tristar, an Australian recruitment business in 1997{{cite news|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/hunt-for-it-wizards-is-getting-bold-and-bloody-19981012-k8dzf|title=Hunt for IT wizards is getting bold and bloody|date=12 October 1998|newspaper=Financial Review|access-date=7 February 2024}} and merged with US staffing company, Staff Mark Inc., in August 1998.{{cite news|url=https://www.treasurers.org/ACTmedia/Dec00TTDOTYRobertWalters53.pdf|title=Recruiting high quality investors|publisher=Association of Corporate Treasurers|access-date=7 February 2024}} The company demerged two years later, re-listing on the London Stock Exchange in 2000.{{cite news|url=https://money.cnn.com/2000/10/16/deals/michaelpage/|title=Spherion mulls unit IPO|newspaper=CNN Money|date=16 October 2000|access-date=7 February 2024}}

In February 1999, the company launched its first global salary survey, offering an annual insight into each sector that the company operates in.{{cite web|url=https://www.robertwaltersgroup.com/news/expert-insight/salary-survey.html|publisher= Robert Walters Group |title=Salary Surveys|access-date=7 February 2024}}

In 2001, the company acquired Dunhill Management Services, an Australian recruitment business.{{cite web|url=https://citywire.com/wealth-manager/news/robert-walters-hit-by-bank-hiring-freeze/a223807|title=Robert Walters hit by bank hiring freeze

|publisher=City AM|date=23 May 2001|access-date=7 February 2024}}

In February 2008, the company acquired Talent Spotter, a Chinese recruitment business with offices in Shanghai and Suzhou.{{Cite web |title=Recruiter Robert Walters goes shopping in China |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/markets/2784946/Recruiter-Robert-Walters-goes-shopping-in-China.html |website=www.telegraph.co.uk|access-date=7 February 2024}}

The founder, Robert Walters, retired and was replaced by Toby Fowlston as CEO in April 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/business/robert-walters-founder-steps-down-as-recruiter-reports-highest-ever-profit-b2298004.html|title=Robert Walters founder steps down as recruiter reports highest ever profit|date=10 March 2023|newspaper=The Independent| access-date=7 February 2024}}

In July 2024, Robert Walters Group unified its three brands, Robert Walters, Walters People and Resource Solutions into a single brand, Robert Walters.{{cite web|url=https://www.robertwalters.com/press-releases/news/blog/Robert-Walters-unifies-into-one-global-talent-solutions-business.html|publisher= Robert Walters |title=Robert Walters unifies brands into one global talent solutions business|access-date=9 July 2024}}

References

{{Reflist}}