Scottish life sciences and IT recruitment firm Entrust Resource Solutions announced that it has acquired executive search firm Horton International UK.

Financial details of the transaction were not disclosed.

Horton International UK provide Executive Recruitment services specialising in Board level positions, heads of function, specialist technology roles and Non-Executive Directors.

According to Entrust, the acquisition is part of the group’s ambitious growth plans which will see the group provide comprehensive recruitment solutions across the life sciences sector, working on contingent, interim and exec search assignments. The expansion of the group allows the experience and knowledge of the full team to be shared across the businesses, offering a wider range of resourcing solutions for clients and candidates.

Entrust, founded by Austin Clark and Ryan Watson, has also attracted new funding to support its growth plans and recruited Gavin Hands and Mary Ballanty to the Board. Paul Edwards, senior partner at Horton International, also joins the board.

“Gavin and Mary bring a wealth of experience in pharma, biotech, life sciences and business,” the group stated.

Ryan Watson, Managing Director, Entrust, commented, “I am delighted to welcome the Horton International team to Entrust Resource Solutions. Horton and Entrust share very similar values and adding a key location to both businesses takes us both one step closer to offering the most comprehensive search and resourcing solution to our Europe-wide client and candidate base. With the strength and experience we now have on our board, I am confident we will meet our five-year target.”