New name for leading regional recruitment consultancy

Ardent is the new name for national and international recruiter ECHM and Imprint Search and Selection which has offices in Leeds, Manchester and the Midlands.

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The consultancy, which has its head office in Leeds and is headed by chief executive David Colgrave, was formed after a management buyout from Imprint plc in December last year. Imprint acquired the business in 2005.

ìBeing part of a plc did not suit our organisation and we will now be looking to double in size over the next three years,î said Mr Colgrave, who led the MBO and had been in the business since 1993. ìWe are a regional business delivering national and international solutions.î

Ardentís two main areas of operation are a finance and accountancy recruitment business and an executive search practice with clients ranging from blue chip plcs to entrepreneurial small and medium sized companies.

ìSince becoming private again our performance has boomed, having previously lost some of our character, identity and flexibility. There is an excitement and energy about the business that speaks volumes for regaining our independence,î said Mr Colgrave.

He added that as part of the MBO the business could not retain the Imprint and ECHM names and did not want to be named after its owners/managers.

ìWe want to build a brand with a fresh, confident and insightful approach which is why we chose the name Ardent,î he said. ìOur three year plan will involve some geographical expansion although we will remain true to our Northern roots.î

Mr Colgrave said that in the current year Ardent wanted to cement its position as the premier regional recruiter while expanding its interim and temporary division and the creation of an outstanding Search product that would be better connected than other consultancies.

Financial advisers to the MBO team are Leeds-based Mitchells Group with chief executive David Mitchell a non-executive director of Ardent.

ìItís great to be involved with a successful company like Ardent and there is little doubt that it is a recruitment consultancy destined to go from strength to strength,î said Mr Mitchell.