Recruitment firm finds the perfect match

Ian Brookes, formerly Group Managing Director of Lorien plc, one of the UKís largest IT recruitment and business services groups, has been appointed to the board of Match Recruitment as Non-Executive Chairman with immediate effect. Match Recruitment provides temporary, contract and permanent recruitment services to the office support, hospitality, finance and technology sectors.

Acceleris plc, which specialises in creating investment opportunities for private equity investors and raising funds to support early and development stage businesses, has driven this appointment as a current shareholder, and is backing Ian Brookes and the current board with a Rights Issue and Open Offer for an immediate capital injection. Arrangements are in place with providers of further significant equity and working capital finance to support ambitious growth and acquisition strategies.

Ian Brookes resigned from Lorien after 16 years service in the summer. He was initially Group Financial Director, taking the business from a private company on to AIM, and a subsequent Main Market listing, and latterly Group Managing Director for five years.

He said:

ëMatch has all the essential ingredients to be a vibrant and successful recruitment business. I will be working with the board and expanding the business into new sectors such as banking and new media and developing new brands.

ìAt the same time, we will also be establishing a Managed Service offering in our core market of Hospitality recruitment where we have some innovative ideas to bring to the market. We will be launching an Executive recruitment business and creating a range of On-Line services. With the support of Acceleris and the current Match team, I believe we can look forward to an exciting period of high growth in the existing business and from acquisitions.í

Norman Molyneux, Chief Executive of Acceleris plc said:

ìWe are delighted to have secured Ianís appointment as Non-executive Chairman and a new shareholder alongside ourselves in Match and wish him and the team every success in building the business. I believe that in the crowded market of recruitment, Match can stand out from the crowd, and Ianís experience and track record in the sector gives me confidence that this will be another successful business in the Acceleris investment portfolioí.