After a successful transformation, MBO & Co sells its majority stake in the Swiss temporary employment firm One Placement

Established in 2002 by Ronaldo Garcia and based mainly in Geneva, One Placement is a key player on the temporary employment market in French-speaking Switzerland, and leader in the medical, building and watchmaking sectors. The company currently generates annual turnover of approximately CHF 60m.

In 2014, MBO & Co acquired a majority stake in One Placement and supported the transfer of the company’s ownership and management on the departure of its founder, Ronaldo Garcia. Subsequent to the transfer, Sylvie Rollin, who had been with the company since 2003, became One Placement’s Managing Director to continue the company’s strategic and operational development.

During the past five years, MBO & Co has helped to structure One Placement, by proposing, in particular, the implementation of high-performance management tools, recruitment of a Chief Financial Officer and improvements to accounting processes.

During the same period, the strategic transformation plan conducted with Sylvie Rollin has led to the company’s expansion (i) into new sectors, such as the hotel and service sectors, and (ii) through new services such as permanent placement. The network of agencies has also been streamlined according to One Placement’s distinctive business plan:

• – a flexible and functional organisation, with agencies of significant size based in Geneva, Lausanne and Basel, organised according to the underlying sectors addressed
• – a broad and diversified client base, mainly consisting of private and public key accounts
• – an efficient commercial policy, based on sectoral specialisation

One Placement was one of the last remaining independent staffing companies having reached a critical size in French-speaking Switzerland, which attracted the interest of numerous potential strategic buyers, in particular French. All through the transfer process, Actual Leader Group showed great motivation and a true strategic vision for One Placement. Sylvie Rollin was looking for an ambitious partner for One Placement and a group with strong human and entrepreneurial values.

Established through the merger between Actual and Leader Interim in November 2018, Actual Leader Group delivers annual revenue of €1.1 billion through a network of 350 agencies and is ranked 7th amongst French temporary employment groups.

This strategic transaction enables One Placement to pursue and accelerate its growth plan, and is in line with Actual Leader Group’s policy of expanding into foreign markets. Already operating in Switzerland under its trade name Max Studer, the acquisition places Actual Leader Group in the top five temporary employment groups in French-speaking Switzerland.