Global staffing firm Empresaria Group plc announced that longtime staffing industry veteran Tony Martin is retiring from his role as non-executive chair effective today. Taking over as interim chair is Penny Freer, a non-executive director since 2005.

Martin joined the Empresaria Board in 2004 as chair, following an extensive career in the staffing sector leading some of the world’s largest international staffing companies, including Vedior and Select Appointments. Martin also founded the Anthony V. Martin Charitable foundation in 2001, which seeks to improve the lives of animals. In addition, Martin was made a Commander of the British Empire last week for his charitable services.

Martin was also named to the inaugural class of SIA’s Staffing 100 Europe Hall of Fame in 2020.

“It has been an honor to serve Empresaria for the past 18 years in the role of chair,” Martin said. “Empresaria is in an excellent position with a strong leadership team, and it therefore feels the right time to transition to full retirement and concentrate on my charitable foundation.”

“For nearly 20 years, Tony has played an instrumental role on the Empresaria board,” Empresaria CEO Rhona Driggs said. “His strategic insights and track record of execution have made Tony a valuable advisor to the business.”

UK-based Empresaria operates from several locations across the world, including the US, Japan, Germany and Australia. It also has a presence in the Asia Pacific and Latin America. 

The board’s nomination committee is leading the process to appoint two new independent non-executive directors.

“Tony has been one of the staffing industry’s most influential figures, and his impact on the global market and in particular in the development of niche professional staffing services has been profound,” said John Nurthen, executive director global research at SIA, which publishes the Global Daily News. “The entrepreneurial business culture that Tony first developed at Select Appointments, refined at Vedior and now with Empresaria, created an environment that enabled business leaders to thrive. Many of today’s leading staffing firms can directly trace their success to his mentorship.” Nurthen worked for Martin at both Select Appointments and Vedior.

Tony Martin