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Adecco makes leadership moves; names North America exec to head UK and Ireland

September 04, 2015

Adecco named an executive from its North American operations as regional head of UK and Ireland in an announcement today. The world’s largest staffing provider also named a new chief marketing and communications officer, a new chief sales officer and new leaders for Northern Europe and Italy.

The moves follow the departures of former CEO Patrick De Maeseneire and CFO Dominik De Daniel.

In this week’s announcement, Adecco reported John Marshall will serve as regional head of UK and Ireland — he had served as executive VP of Adecco’s North American finance, office and legal business since 2010. Marshall will also join the company’s executive committee and relocate to the UK from Jacksonville, Fla. Marshall had begun his career in professional staffing in 1998 and over the past 17 years has held various executive positions including president of Special Counsel and of Accounting Principals.

Marshall succeeds Peter Searle, who is leaving Adecco Group to pursue his career outside the company. Searle left the executive committee Sept. 4.

Adecco announced David Alexander, president of the Adecco Group NA healthcare division, will expand his role to include the finance and office divisions. In addition, Laurie Chamberlin will continue in her role as president of the Adecco Group NA legal division overseeing Special Counsel and eQ, Adecco’s eDiscovery Services platform.

The company also announced Stephan Howeg will serve as the Adecco Group’s chief marketing and communications officer, a newly created role. Howeg, a Swiss and German national, joined the company’s executive committee effective Sept. 4. He has been with Adecco since 2007 and served as global head of group communications.

In addition, the role of regional head of Northern Europe will go to Mark De Smedt, Adecco’s chief human resources officer, effective Jan. 1 at the latest. De Smedt is a Belgian national and has been an executive committee member since this year. De Smedt joined the Adecco Group in 2002 as regional head of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Smedt replaces Martín Alonso as regional head of Northern Europe. After 22 years at Adecco, Alonso will retire to pursue his career outside the company. Alonso left the executive committee today.

Sergio Picarelli, Adecco Group chief sales officer, will become regional Head of Italy, Eastern Europe & (Middle East and North Africa) and India, effective of Oct. 1. Picarelli is an Italian national and has been an executive committee member since October 2009. He joined Adecco in 1993.

Picarelli replaces Federico Vione, who will take on the newly created position of chief sales and innovation officer. Vione joined Adecco as a branch manager in 1999, becoming country manager of Adecco Italy in 2008. He has served for the past six years as regional head of Italy, Eastern Europe & MENA and India.