Robert Walters

Robert Walters is an international specialist professional recruitment consultancy headquartered in London, UK, with offices in multiple countries, offering mid-to-senior level recruitment and talent solutions.

Robert Walters plc was founded in London in 1985 by recruitment professional Robert Walters. Its original purpose was relatively focused: placing accountants in the London employment market. From that starting point, the business expanded its professional coverage and developed into an international recruitment company serving employers and candidates across a range of specialist disciplines. Its work includes permanent appointments as well as contract and temporary placements, allowing it to address both continuing workforce needs and more flexible hiring requirements. The company’s development included a combination of public-market activity, acquisitions and diversification into related workforce services. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange in July 1996. In 1997, it created Resource Solutions as a wholly owned subsidiary. Resource Solutions provided recruitment process outsourcing services, extending the group beyond conventional agency recruitment and into the management and delivery of recruitment functions for client organisations. International expansion was also an important part of the group’s history. In 1997, Robert Walters acquired Tristar, an Australian recruitment business. In August 1998, it merged with United States staffing company Staff Mark Inc. The relationship was subsequently demerged, and Robert Walters was re-listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2000. The company continued acquiring recruitment operations, including Australian business Dunhill Management Services in 2001 and Chinese recruitment company Talent Spotter in February 2008. Talent Spotter had offices in Shanghai and Suzhou, helping extend the group’s presence in China. The group also established a research and information role in the recruitment market. In February 1999, it launched its first global salary survey. The survey was designed to provide annual information about pay and employment conditions in the sectors covered by the company. This type of publication complemented the group’s recruitment activity by giving employers and professionals a reference point for compensation and talent-market discussions. Over time, the organisation operated through several connected brands. Robert Walters represented the core specialist recruitment business, Walters People addressed additional staffing and recruitment activity, and Resource Solutions represented recruitment process outsourcing. In July 2024, the group unified these three brands under the Robert Walters name. The move created a single outward-facing identity for the group’s recruitment and talent-services activities while retaining the breadth of services developed through its history. Leadership also changed as the founder moved out of the chief executive role. Robert Walters retired as chief executive in April 2023 and was replaced by Toby Fowlston. The company remains an active listed British recruitment group with branches in 31 countries and a business model spanning professional recruitment, flexible staffing, recruitment process outsourcing and employment-market information.

1. 2024Group brands unified under Robert Walters

   Robert Walters, Walters People and Resource Solutions were unified under the Robert Walters brand in July.

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2. 2023Toby Fowlston becomes chief executive

   Founder Robert Walters retired as chief executive in April and Toby Fowlston succeeded him.

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3. 2008Talent Spotter acquired

   The company acquired Chinese recruitment business Talent Spotter, with offices in Shanghai and Suzhou.

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4. 2001Dunhill Management Services acquired

   The group acquired Australian recruitment business Dunhill Management Services.

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5. 2000Re-listed after demerger

   Following the demerger of the Staff Mark-related combination, Robert Walters returned to the London Stock Exchange.

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6. 1999First global salary survey launched

   The company introduced its first global salary survey, beginning an annual programme of sector and compensation research.

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7. 1998Merger with Staff Mark Inc.

   The company merged with United States staffing business Staff Mark Inc. in August.

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8. 1997Resource Solutions established

   The group formed Resource Solutions as a wholly owned recruitment process outsourcing subsidiary.

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9. 1997Tristar acquired

   Robert Walters expanded its Australian activities by acquiring recruitment business Tristar.

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10. 1996Initial London Stock Exchange listing

    The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in July.

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11. 1985Company founded in London

    Robert Walters founded the recruitment company, initially concentrating on placing accountants in London.

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A specialist international recruitment and talent-services provider focused on professional, technical and managerial roles.

• Permanent professional recruitmentRecruitment service1985

  The company places professionals into permanent roles for employers seeking continuing staff appointments. The service grew from the company’s original accounting recruitment focus and later expanded across multiple professional disciplines, including accounting, finance, technology and legal work.

• Contract and temporary recruitmentFlexible staffing

  Robert Walters recruits professionals for contract and temporary positions in addition to permanent employment. This offering gives clients access to more flexible staffing arrangements and forms part of the group’s broader specialist recruitment model.

• Resource SolutionsRecruitment process outsourcing1997

  Resource Solutions was established in 1997 as a wholly owned subsidiary providing recruitment process outsourcing services. It extended the group’s role from candidate placement into the provision of outsourced recruitment capabilities for client organisations. In 2024, the activity was brought under the unified Robert Walters brand.

• Global Salary SurveyLabour-market research1999

  The global salary survey was first launched in 1999 and provides annual information about pay and employment conditions in the sectors covered by the group. It is an information and market-insight offering supporting compensation discussions among employers and professionals.

• 2024Unification of group brandsStrategy

  The group operated through the Robert Walters, Walters People and Resource Solutions brands.

  What changed. In July, it unified the three brands under the single Robert Walters name.

  Aftermath. The group adopted a simpler external brand structure covering its recruitment, staffing and recruitment process outsourcing activities.

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• 1997Entry into recruitment process outsourcingStrategy

  The group sought to extend its activities beyond conventional recruitment placement.

  What changed. It established Resource Solutions as a wholly owned subsidiary offering recruitment process outsourcing services.

  Aftermath. The group gained an additional workforce-services business, later consolidated with its other brands under Robert Walters in 2024.

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• 2024Robert Walters Group unifies its brands

  The group brought Robert Walters, Walters People and Resource Solutions together under the single Robert Walters brand.

  Other
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• 2023Toby Fowlston succeeds Robert Walters as chief executive

  Founder Robert Walters retired from the chief executive role in April 2023 and Toby Fowlston became chief executive.

  Leadership change
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• 2008Robert Walters establishes Talent Spotter acquisition presence in China

  The group acquired Chinese recruitment business Talent Spotter, which had offices in Shanghai and Suzhou.

  M&A
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• 2000Robert Walters returns to the London Stock Exchange after demerger

  Following the demerger of businesses associated with its earlier combination with Staff Mark Inc., Robert Walters was re-listed on the London Stock Exchange.

  Other
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1. Robert Walters plc
2. Robert Walters official website