Starfish Partners acquired Direct Recruiters Inc., a search firm based in Solon, Ohio.
Starfish Partners, based in Plano, Texas, provides capital for recruiting firms planning to scale as well as exit strategies for owners. Its current partner organizations include search firms Kaye/Bassman International Corp., Full Spectrum Search Group, the Sanford Rose Associates International Network and consulting and training firm Next Level Exchange.
All entities under Starfish Partners maintain their own brands, while many functions will become centralized.
“Starfish Partners is securely positioned to provide access to capital, liquidity and potential equity in our highly fragmented market,” said Jeff Kaye, Starfish managing director and co-CEO of Sanford Rose Associates International, Kaye/Bassman International and Next Level Exchange. He noted the network combined has more than 50 owners, more than 200 associates and more than 170 offices.
With the deal, Starfish’s new board will include Kaye; Karen Schmidt, president of Sanford Rose and partner at Kaye/Bassman and Next Level Exchange; Direct Recruiters President and CEO Dan Charney; Mike Silverstein, managing partner of healthcare IT and life sciences at Direct Recruiters; and Nicholas Turner, co-CEO of Sanford Rose.