Executive recruitment agency acquired in MBO

A Liverpool-based executive recruitment and talent management consultancy has unveiled major rebranding plans following its acquisition in a management buy-out.

NDK International, based at the Plaza, Old Hall Street, has been bought from founder Neil Kelly by new joint managing partners, Simon Kerevan and Alex Martin, for an undisclosed sum.

The company will now shift its core focus onto psychometric assessment, coaching and mentoring, leadership development, recruitment process outsourcing, team development, engagement, succession planning and talent management services, whilst retaining a stake in recruitment and continuing to service its valued clients. It is also planning a major rebrand of the business before the end of the year.

Mitchell Charlesworth Chartered Accountants and Business Advisors acted on the deal, which involved private equity investment through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).

Simon Kerevan, who joined NDK as a director a year ago, said: ìAfter seven years growing NDK its founder, Neil Kelly, was looking to take a break and exit the business. Alex and I saw the potential to change the direction of the business and focus on a niche market and we decided it was a great opportunity to acquire the company.

ìUnlike many organisations we are seeing the credit crunch as an opportunity to really help businesses make the most of the people they have. People are an organisationís most vital asset and in these challenging financial conditions we are working with companies large and small enabling them to put strategies in place to develop, retain and maximise the talent they have. This approach should see companies survive the current economic situation and put them ahead of the competition when the upturn returns.î

NDK was established in 2001 and currently employs six full-time staff, as well as 25 freelance associates and consultants. Its clients include Dupont, the second largest chemical company in the world, Whirlpool, Merseyrail and Liverpool law firm Hill Dickinson.

Simon Kerevan previously spent four years at global human resources consultancy SHL, managing their relationship with some of the largest employers in the North West, while his business partner, Alex Martin, has spent more than 16 years in learning and development working with electronics giants Philips and LG and more recently international business services company Serco, developing Performance Improvement and leadership development programmes. Together they have set-up Iceberg Consulting Ltd to acquire NDK in the MBO.

Paul McGerty, from Mitchell Charlesworth, led the acquisition process. He added: ìIn these current market conditions there are always going to be winners and losers, fortunately Simon and Alex have identified a niche and will focus on one of NDKís specialist services.

ìThey are well placed to become one of the winners by making the most of the opportunities thrown up by the credit crunch to take the business forward and in the long-term put the foundations in place for further expansion.î