The Adecco Group, the world’s largest staffing firm, appointed Franz-Josef Schürmann as chief sales and innovation officer and Mark De Smedt as regional head of Northern Europe. Both will remain members of the executive committee.

Schürmann took the role of regional head DACH in 2016 and together with the senior management team changed the structure within Germany and Switzerland and bolstered the leadership team across the region. These changes are now complete and effective July 1, the DACH region will become part of the extended Northern Europe region, together with Benelux and Nordics, to enable operations to capitalize on the similarities and synergies of the labor markets across the region. De Smedt, a Belgian national, will lead the extended region.

ManpowerGroup (NYSE: MAN) also this week expanded an executive’s role to Northern Europe.

De Smedt has been regional head of Northern Europe, comprising Benelux and Nordics, since 2016 and an executive committee member since 2014. He joined The Adecco Group in 2002 as country manager of Belgium. Between 2014 and 2016, he was CHRO of The Adecco Group.

“Since he joined the company, Franz-Josef Schürmann has played a central role in driving The Adecco Group’s innovation projects, drawing on his experience and expertise in the technology sector,” said CEO Alain Dehaze. “Mark De Smedt’s broad and deep knowledge of our industry are a strong asset to lead the extended Northern Europe. He will build on the leading market positions we have across the region to further strengthen our operational performance.”