Aquent

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Aquent
TypePrivate
IndustryProfessional services
Founded1986
HeadquartersBoston
Key people
John Chuang (co-founder and CEO)
ServicesEmployment agencies
$500 million (2006)[1]
Websiteaquent.com

Aquent is a staffing company specializing in placing temporary employees in marketing and creative industries. According to Staffing Industry Analysts, it is among the "largest marketing/creative staffing firms in the United States".[2] Aquent also operates internationally with offices in Japan, Canada, Australia, France, UK, and the Netherlands.[3]

History[]

Harvard College students John Chuang, Mia Wenjen and Steve Kapner in 1986 founded a typesetting business called Laser Designs from their Harvard dorm.[1][4][5] The business grew and they added temporary staffing related to Mac training as an offering and called it MacTemps.[1] MacTemps grew, adding non-Mac as well as permanent placements. With MacTemps no longer reflecting the business, they changed their name to Aquent, intended to mean "not a follower" in Latin.[6]

The company has grown substantially and entered into new business areas through acquisitions.

The company saw a drop in revenue in 2001 in the aftermath of the dot-com bubble with revenue dropping in 2001 compared to 2000.[7] To counter the drop off in business, Aquent purchased Renaissance Worldwide Inc., an IT consultancy and staffing firm, for $106 million.[7] Aquent at that time had been known for offering staffing of print and web designers.[7] The deal allowed Aquent to also offer back end support staffers, which was considered by the company to complement well as a package solution.[7] The acquisition of Renaissance also included a municipal and state government IT consulting subsidiary, which as initially planned was sold months later in 2002 to EOne Global for $45 million.[8]

In 2003 the company made a hostile takeover offer for Computer Horizons Corporation, a computer network services company with a staffing business segment.[9] Aquent through its investment banker Robert W. Baird & Co. had initially approached Computer Horizon's management on April 3, 2003 with an invitation to have dinner, which was rejected by Bill Murphy, the President and CEO of Computer Horizons.[10] Aquent then proceeded to launch a cash tender offer on April 14, 2003 that valued Computer Horizons at $154 million.[10] This proposal was opposed by management and in May the offer was rejected.[10]

Aquent acquired Corporate Project Resources Inc. (CPRi), a staffing agency for marketing jobs, in 2005 for $25 million and renamed it Aquent Marketing Staffing while keeping its operations in Chicago.[11]

In 2006, Aquent acquired Seattle-based Sakson & Taylor, a staffing agency focused on content development and design with a significant presence at Microsoft, along with offices in a handful of other cities. The Sakson & Taylor brand (with "an Aquent company" appended) was retained for some years, but is no longer used. The former Sakson & Taylor headquarters are now Aquent's Seattle offices.[citation needed]

In 2011, Aquent launched a new division, Vitamin T, which focuses on placing "digital creatives" with marketing departments and advertising agencies for contract assignments.[citation needed][12]

In 2012, Aquent launched Gymnasium offering free online courses for creative talent.[13]

In 2018, Aquent acquired Dev6, a consulting company which provides training courses to application developers.[3][14]

Aquent Studios[]

In 2003, Aquent Studios was launched a marketing division within Aquent that provides companies with an on/off site studio, which produces creative and marketing content. Aquent Studios also operates internationally.[3][15]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c "John Chuang". BizTech. November 27, 2007.
  2. ^ "2015 Largest Marketing/Creative Staffing Firms in the United States". Staffing Industry Analysts. Archived from the original on 2016-10-26. Retrieved 2016-05-15.
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c "History". aquent.com. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  4. ^ "Litl Introduces Its Web-Based Netbook". Wall Street Journal. November 4, 2009.
  5. ^ "Sites to Help Professional Workers Who Like to Go It Alone". New York Times. October 14, 1999.
  6. ^ "A Generation of Freelancers". New York Times. August 15, 1999.
  7. ^ Jump up to: a b c d "Aquent acquires Renaissance". Boston Business Journal. December 31, 2001.
  8. ^ "'E-Taxes' Fuel Merger". New York Times. April 18, 2002.
  9. ^ "Computer Horizons Buys RGII Technologies". New York Times. July 10, 2003.
  10. ^ Jump up to: a b c "Computer Horizons rejects Aquent bid". MarketWatch. May 2, 2003.
  11. ^ "Aquent acquires CPRi". Ad Age. July 25, 2005.
  12. ^ "Aquent launches new division Vitamin T". Vitamin Talent. May 11, 2011.
  13. ^ "Our History".
  14. ^ "About Us". Aquent | DEV6. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
  15. ^ "Our Approach". Aquent Studios. Retrieved 2019-10-10.
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