Harvey Nash Group plc, a UK-based staffing provider with US operations, reported revenue rose 15.3% on a constant currency basis in the six months ended July 31. The increase was 14.8% on a reported basis. Harvey Nash also announced that Sean Gilligan has been promoted to president of its technology recruitment division for North America. Gilligan started as a recruiter in the company’s New Jersey office 10 years ago and has held multiple roles in the organization.

For the first half of this year, the company cited increases in contract recruitment, contract management and IT outsourcing fueled revenue growth.

• In the UK & Ireland, Harvey Nash said the businesses performed well, benefiting from the Crimson acquisition made last year and strong organic growth. This was achieved despite a challenging market and declines reported across the recruitment sector in light of uncertainty surrounding the negotiations between the European Union and the UK.
• In Mainland Europe, the company’s platform in Benelux continues to drive organic growth. The Benelux region reported the biggest gross profit growth of 13.7%.
• In the “Rest of World” region, results were mixed with strong performances from the Vietnam-based IT outsourcing business set against declining revenues in the US and Australia.

Harvey Nash noted that IT outsourcing, recruitment solutions, permanent recruitment and executive search all declined. The company reported US gross profit fell 22.4% to £5.9 million (US$7.7 million); the decline was 16.8% on a constant-currency basis.

Harvey Nash last month struck a deal to be acquired by its largest shareholder: The Power of Talent Ltd. an entity owned and controlled by investment funds managed by DBAY Advisors Ltd. The deal values total shares in Harvey Nash at £98.7 million (US$127.9 million).

Shares in Harvey Nash closed down 0.97% today to £127.00 in London. It had a market cap of £94.2 million.