FWB and Park Brown in recruitment merger

SCOTTISH recruitment firms FWB and Park Brown International have merged to form one of the country’s biggest executive search specialists.

The merged FWB Park Brown team, from left Stephen Sheal, Bill McCall, Judy Wagner, Willie Finlayson, Scott Black and Stuart Cochrane

Edinburgh based FWB, established 20 years ago by Willie Finlayson, Judy Wagner and Scott Black, is formalising a partnership it has had with Aberdeen firm Park Brown International since 2009. They will come together as FWB Park Brown, though they will trade separately for an initial period.

Park Brown was set up in 1985 and has since expanded its operations through a partnership with the Australian Springbank Group which extended its oil and gas expertiese into the mining, minerals processing, power generation and downstream oil and gas industries.  In June this year it opened an office in Houston, Texas.

FWB director Scott Black said the merger will enable the combined company to break new ground. “We have enjoyed a close association with Park Brown over many years and, although a big step, this merger feels very natural,” he said. “This is about two well-established businesses with a common ethos combining to pool their resources to drive growth and expand their reach.”

Park Brown International’s managing director, Stuart Cochrane, said that the ambitions and perceptions of both companies were similar.

“We are well known for our independent capabilities when it comes to delivery and expertise at senior level. The merger will enable us to widen our talent pool and grow the businesses.”

FWB Park Brown will be chaired by Bill McCall who is the principal of McCall & Partners and also chairs a number of other companies.

He has considerable private equity and international experience and has worked with FWB in an advisory capacity for many years.

He said “I know the key players very well, and negotiations to bring these two successful companies together have been reassuringly straightforward. That has reinforced the compelling logic of taking this step. It’s a bold move which I expect to be rewarding for both the team and their clients”.