Manpower Services plans to expand through brand rejig

17 March 2006

Soumen Basu, executive chairman, Manpower Inc, explains why the recruitment firm's growth plan is contrary to its US parents'. Interviewed by V Jagannathan.

Chennai: Manpower Services hit the headlines last September when it acquired the IT, ITeS and retail financial services practice of ABC Consultants along with its senior leadership team, 180 recruiters and the ongoing client relationships for an undisclosed sum.

Today, at a time when the US-based recruitment company Manpower Inc has drastically shrunk its 200-brand portfolio into five, the company's Indian subsidiary Manpower Services India Pvt Limited has done the opposite; it has doubled its brand portfolio.

"Earlier all our business were aligned under the brand Manpower. After the global restructuring, we have added one more brand — Manpower Professional," remarks executive chairman Soumen Basu.

Under the Manpower brand the company provided:

• Direct Hire: Senior management assignment, as well as turnkey solutions
  
• Volume Hire: Staffing complete customer facing teams
  
• Temporary & Contract Staffing: Flexible workforce solutions
  
• Managed Services: Complex people management solutions