Randstad NV, commonly known as Randstad and stylized as randstad, is a Dutch multinational human resource consulting firm headquartered in Diemen, Netherlands. Along with Adecco, the company is one of the two largest staffing firms worldwide.
History
The company was founded as Uitzendbureau Amstelveen in the Netherlands in 1960 by Gerrit Daleboudt and Frits Goldschmeding (1933-2024) based on an idea for a college thesis. The name was changed to Randstad four years later.[2] Goldschmeding eventually became the richest person in the Netherlands.[3]
Randstad Holding NV was created in 1978 — all divisions were then assembled under that umbrella (sourced via FR Wiki page).
In 2008, the company acquired Vedior for €3.3 billion.[4] That year, the company sold its unit in Portugal to Kelly Services.[5]
In March 2011, Frits Goldschmeding resigned as vice chairman of the Supervisory Board. His last term ran from 2007 to 2011.[3]
Acquisitions
In September 2011, Randstad acquired Spherion for $770 million.[6]
In August 2016, Randstad acquired Monster.com for $429 million in cash.[7] In September 2024, Monster merged with CareerBuilder, and funds managed by Apollo Global Management became the majority owner of the websites, with Randstad retaining a minority investment.[8]
Sponsorships
Randstad was a sponsor of Formula One team Williams F1 from 2006 until 2017.
In 2019, Randstad became the sponsor of Italian Formula 1 team Scuderia Toro Rosso (known as Scuderia AlphaTauri from 2020-2024 and Racing Bulls since 2024).[9]
Controversies
Data collection for Google
In 2019, Google contracted with Randstad to collect data for its Pixel 4 facial recognition authentication feature. Google's stated goal with the project was to make the feature more inclusive by collecting facial data from people with dark skin, and those participating in the research were given a $5 gift certificate. However, the New York Daily News reported that Randstad project leaders allegedly directed its workers to maximize data collection by deceiving participants and targeting homeless people in Atlanta, Georgia.[10][11] Randstad stated that, after hearing concerns about how information was presented to participants and obtaining consent, the project was temporarily suspended and project leaders were retrained.[12] After the report was published, Google shut down its field research and was investigating the allegations.[13]
External links
References
- Randstad Annual Reports Randstad^
- Frits Goldschmeding Forbes^
- Sarah Jacob. Frits Goldschmeding, Dutch Temp Job Billionaire, Dies at 90 Bloomberg News, 29 July 2024^
- Foo Yun Chee, Harro ten Wolde. Randstad launches bid for Vedior Reuters, 2 April 2008^
- Niclas Mika. Randstad sells Portugal unit to Kelly Services Reuters, 11 July 2008^
- Former Spherion to be acquired by Randstad Sun Sentinel, 20 July 2011^
- Ingrid Lunden. Randstad buys Monster for $429M as recruitment consolidation continues TechCrunch, 9 August 2016^
- Kathryn Moody. Monster and CareerBuilder complete merger Industry Dive, 17 September 2024^
- Matthew Williams. AlphaTauri adds three more years to Randstad Group deal Sport Business, February 28, 2022^
- Ginger Adams Otis, Nancy Dillon. Google using dubious tactics to target people with 'darker skin' in facial recognition project: sources New York Daily News, 2 October 2019^
- Victoria Song. Report: Google Contractors Used Shady Methods To Scan Dark-Skinned People's Faces For New Pixel 4 Feature Gizmodo, 7 October 2019^
- Ginger Adams Otis, Nancy Dillon. City worker saw homeless people lined up to get $5 gift card for face scan uploaded to Google New York Daily News, 3 October 2019^
- Sean Hollister. Google has suspended its controversial 'field research' that allegedly scanned homeless people The Verge, 4 October 2019^