New Grafton Employment Group Chief Executive Jason Kennedy
Grafton Employment Group has named a new Global Chief Executive, Mr Jason Kennedy. The appointment follows a decision by company co-founders, James Kilbane and Ken Belshaw, to step back from the day-to-day responsibilities of running the business whilst retaining a presence on the Group’s board.
Mr. Kennedy joins Grafton from the global recruitment firm Manpower inc. where he was Managing Director – Ireland. He will take responsibility for managing 72 offices across 19 countries.
Welcoming Mr. Kennedy’s appointment, James Kilbane said:
“I’m delighted to attract an industry leader of Jason’s calibre to the Grafton Employment Group. In previous roles he has proven himself a man of vision and ambition and I am confident these attributes will drive the Group forward as we look towards the next decade. As the industry experiences a great degree of change we must adapt with it and I believe now is the right time to be bringing in new talent right at the top of the organisation.”
Mr Kennedy said:
“Grafton Employment Group has an excellent reputation for customer service and innovation and I am looking forward to playing a key role in maintaining these traditions. Evidently the global downturn is the number one issue facing business, but the Group continue to perform strongly.
“Grafton Employment Group’s long track record means that they have come through difficult times before. Their ethos of delivering strong results for clients and providing cost effective employment solutions remains an attractive proposition into today’s economic climate.
“Although this is a global recession, not all markets have been equally affected and some markets will return to growth ahead of others. Grafton Employment Group is an organisation proud of its Irish roots and domestic markets will remain at the forefront of our plans for future development. The strong Irish brand combined with the Group’s presence across emerging markets such as South America, Middle East and Eastern Europe will allow us to take full advantage of the recovery when it arrives.”
Mr. Kennedy also paid tribute to company co-founders, James Kilbane and Ken Belshaw, as they step back from direct management:
“Coming from a background in international recruitment I’ve had the chance to follow the fortunes of James and Ken as they built Grafton Employment Group into a significant global player. Matching their success will be a considerable challenge, but I know their experience and knowledge of the company will be a strong asset at board level.”
In addition to managing Grafton Employment Group, Mr Kennedy will also be responsible for strengthening the group’s multi-service offering and brands, including, Executive Search Consultancy SpenglerFox, Technical Specialist BluePrint Appointments, Grafton Healthcare, and maryb.ie.
Ken Belshaw added:
“It’s almost thirty years since we began the company with an office on Dublin’s Grafton Street. Today we have offices in 19 countries and over 800 staff. James and I have decided that now is the time to concentrate our efforts at Board level. We are confident that Jason will bring new experience and energy to the business. We look forward to working with him as Grafton Employment Group continues to grow its global presence.”
