Adecco SA, the world's largest staffing firm, named a new CEO today, and announced its current top executive will leave at the end of this month. The company said it will still continue with plans to build up its professional staffing business.

The new CEO, Patrick De Maeseneire, presently serves as top executive at European chocolate company Barry Callebaut AG. However, De Maeseneire held several executive roles at Adecco before going to Barry Callebaut in 2002. De Maeseneire started at Adecco as country manager for the Belgium, Netherlands and Luxemburg region in 1998, and later led its global professional staffing business out of New York.

Adecco's current CEO, Dieter Scheiff, formally took over the post in April 2006 from then-CEO Klaus Jacobs. Scheiff had previously served as CEO of German staffing firm DIS AG, which was acquired by Adecco.

Jacobs, who died last year, also served as chairman of Adecco, but did not stand for reelection in 2007. Jacobs Holdings AG holds 22.8% of Adecco's shares and 50.5% of Barry Callebaut, according to annual reports from both companies.

In a conference call with analysts today, Adecco Chairman Rolf Dörig said it was the board that opted to look for a new CEO.

Dörig also said the company will maintain its current direction.

"Adecco will continue to build on what we have started three years ago," he said. "The company will continue to pursue its dual objective of building up the professional staffing business while continuing to optimize operations in the general staffing, with a particular focus on delivery models, specialization and cost leadership. So there will be no change in strategy."

Dörig said Adecco is looking at building the professional business both organically and through acquisitions.

Adecco posted 2008 revenue of euro19.97 billion (US$28.15 billion).

As a side note, De Maeseneire was given the royal title of "baron" by King Albert II of Belgium in 2007, according to Reuters.