Robert Walters
International specialist professional recruitment consultancy
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Robert Walters is an international specialist professional recruitment consultancy headquartered in London, UK, with offices in multiple countries, offering mid-to-senior level recruitment and talent solutions.
History
Robert Walters plc was founded in London in 1985 by recruitment professional Robert Walters. Its original purpose was relatively focused: placing accountants in the London employment market. From that starting point, the business expanded its professional coverage and developed into an international recruitment company serving employers and candidates across a range of specialist disciplines. Its work includes permanent appointments as well as contract and temporary placements, allowing it to address both continuing workforce needs and more flexible hiring requirements. The company’s development included a combination of public-market activity, acquisitions and diversification into related workforce services. It was listed on the London Stock Exchange in July 1996. In 1997, it created Resource Solutions as a wholly owned subsidiary. Resource Solutions provided recruitment process outsourcing services, extending the group beyond conventional agency recruitment and into the management and delivery of recruitment functions for client organisations. International expansion was also an important part of the group’s history. In 1997, Robert Walters acquired Tristar, an Australian recruitment business. In August 1998, it merged with United States staffing company Staff Mark Inc. The relationship was subsequently demerged, and Robert Walters was re-listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2000. The company continued acquiring recruitment operations, including Australian business Dunhill Management Services in 2001 and Chinese recruitment company Talent Spotter in February 2008. Talent Spotter had offices in Shanghai and Suzhou, helping extend the group’s presence in China. The group also established a research and information role in the recruitment market. In February 1999, it launched its first global salary survey. The survey was designed to provide annual information about pay and employment conditions in the sectors covered by the company. This type of publication complemented the group’s recruitment activity by giving employers and professionals a reference point for compensation and talent-market discussions. Over time, the organisation operated through several connected brands. Robert Walters represented the core specialist recruitment business, Walters People addressed additional staffing and recruitment activity, and Resource Solutions represented recruitment process outsourcing. In July 2024, the group unified these three brands under the Robert Walters name. The move created a single outward-facing identity for the group’s recruitment and talent-services activities while retaining the breadth of services developed through its history. Leadership also changed as the founder moved out of the chief executive role. Robert Walters retired as chief executive in April 2023 and was replaced by Toby Fowlston. The company remains an active listed British recruitment group with branches in 31 countries and a business model spanning professional recruitment, flexible staffing, recruitment process outsourcing and employment-market information.
- 2024
Group brands unified under Robert Walters
[1]Robert Walters, Walters People and Resource Solutions were unified under the Robert Walters brand in July.
- 2023
Toby Fowlston becomes chief executive
[1]Founder Robert Walters retired as chief executive in April and Toby Fowlston succeeded him.
- 2008
Talent Spotter acquired
[1]The company acquired Chinese recruitment business Talent Spotter, with offices in Shanghai and Suzhou.
- 2001
Dunhill Management Services acquired
[1]The group acquired Australian recruitment business Dunhill Management Services.
- 2000
Re-listed after demerger
[1]Following the demerger of the Staff Mark-related combination, Robert Walters returned to the London Stock Exchange.
- 1999
First global salary survey launched
[1]The company introduced its first global salary survey, beginning an annual programme of sector and compensation research.
- 1998
Merger with Staff Mark Inc.
[1]The company merged with United States staffing business Staff Mark Inc. in August.
- 1997
Resource Solutions established
[1]The group formed Resource Solutions as a wholly owned recruitment process outsourcing subsidiary.
- 1997
Tristar acquired
[1]Robert Walters expanded its Australian activities by acquiring recruitment business Tristar.
- 1996
Initial London Stock Exchange listing
[1]The company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in July.
Products and positioning
A specialist international recruitment and talent-services provider focused on professional, technical and managerial roles.
Recruitment service · 1985
Permanent professional recruitment
The company places professionals into permanent roles for employers seeking continuing staff appointments. The service grew from the company’s original accounting recruitment focus and later expanded across multiple professional disciplines, including accounting, finance, technology and legal work.
Flexible staffing
Contract and temporary recruitment
Robert Walters recruits professionals for contract and temporary positions in addition to permanent employment. This offering gives clients access to more flexible staffing arrangements and forms part of the group’s broader specialist recruitment model.
Recruitment process outsourcing · 1997
Resource Solutions
Resource Solutions was established in 1997 as a wholly owned subsidiary providing recruitment process outsourcing services. It extended the group’s role from candidate placement into the provision of outsourced recruitment capabilities for client organisations. In 2024, the activity was brought under the unified Robert Walters brand.
Labour-market research · 1999
Global Salary Survey
The global salary survey was first launched in 1999 and provides annual information about pay and employment conditions in the sectors covered by the group. It is an information and market-insight offering supporting compensation discussions among employers and professionals.
Brand decisions
2024
Unification of group brandsStrategyBackground
The group operated through the Robert Walters, Walters People and Resource Solutions brands.
Action taken
In July, it unified the three brands under the single Robert Walters name.
Aftermath
The group adopted a simpler external brand structure covering its recruitment, staffing and recruitment process outsourcing activities.
1997
Entry into recruitment process outsourcingStrategyBackground
The group sought to extend its activities beyond conventional recruitment placement.
Action taken
It established Resource Solutions as a wholly owned subsidiary offering recruitment process outsourcing services.
Aftermath
The group gained an additional workforce-services business, later consolidated with its other brands under Robert Walters in 2024.
Recent events
- 2024
Robert Walters Group unifies its brands[1]
Other
The group brought Robert Walters, Walters People and Resource Solutions together under the single Robert Walters brand.
- 2023
Toby Fowlston succeeds Robert Walters as chief executive[1]
Leadership change
Founder Robert Walters retired from the chief executive role in April 2023 and Toby Fowlston became chief executive.
- 2008
Robert Walters establishes Talent Spotter acquisition presence in China[1]
M&A
The group acquired Chinese recruitment business Talent Spotter, which had offices in Shanghai and Suzhou.
- 2000
Robert Walters returns to the London Stock Exchange after demerger[1]
Other
Following the demerger of businesses associated with its earlier combination with Staff Mark Inc., Robert Walters was re-listed on the London Stock Exchange.
Sources3 sources
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