Robert Half sees leadership changes amid CEO’s retirement
Human resources consulting firm Robert Half International Inc has announced M. Keith Waddell will take on the firm’s CEO position following current CEO and executive chairman Harold M. Messmer, Jr’s retirement. Messmer will remain as executive chairman.
"Robert Half is fortunate to have great management continuity among our top executives and the experienced leaders of our field operations worldwide, who together average more than 20 years with the company,” Messmer said. “When I assume my new role as Executive Chairman next month, I look forward to supporting this outstanding team in the future as it continues to grow the Robert Half business."
Waddell is currently Robert Half’s vice chairman, president, and CFO – a position in which he has served for more than 30 years. But a new CEO isn’t all that’s in the cards for Robert Half, a member of the S&P 500. Paul F. Gentzkow, current president and COO of staffing services, will remain president, but move up to CEO of staffing services. Michael Buckley, a more than two-decade veteran of Robert Half, will assume the company’s executive vice president and CFO position.
"We are extraordinarily fortunate that Mr. Messmer will continue as Executive Chairman and will remain involved in areas that are most important to Robert Half's continued growth,” Frederick A. Richman, the firm’s lead outside Director, said. “We are equally fortunate that Mr. Waddell will serve as CEO and that we have the benefit of an outstanding team of other executives, most of whom have at least two decades of experience with the company."
Robert Half employs approximately 19,000 people and operates out of more than 400 locations globally. The firm reported revenue of more than $5 billion in 2018. Robert Half is also the parent company of consulting firm Protiviti, which offers services in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit.