Robert Half CEO Harold M. Messmer, Jr., To Assume Executive Chairman Role; M. Keith Waddell Named CEO

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Nov 06, 2019, 17:35 ET

MENLO PARK, Calif., Nov. 6, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Robert Half International Inc. (NYSE: RHI) announced today that Harold M. (Max) Messmer, Jr. (73), its Chairman and CEO for 33 years, will continue as Executive Chairman but retire from his position as CEO, effective December 15, 2019. As Executive Chairman, Messmer will continue to devote significant time to Board matters as well as growth plans, business strategy and the professional development of the company's employees throughout the organization.

Messmer will be succeeded as CEO by M. Keith Waddell (62). Waddell's current title is Vice Chairman, President and CFO; he has served as Robert Half's CFO for more than 30 years. Paul F. Gentzkow (63), a 30-year veteran of the company who has served for many years as President and COO -- Staffing Services, will become President and CEO -- Staffing Services. Finally, Michael Buckley (54), a 22-year veteran of the company, will be promoted from Executive Vice President, Treasurer, to Executive Vice President, CFO. Joseph Tarantino (61), a veteran of 17 years, will continue as President and CEO of Protiviti.

Messmer stated, "Robert Half is fortunate to have great management continuity among our top executives and the experienced leaders of our field operations worldwide, who together average more than 20 years with the company. When I assume my new role as Executive Chairman next month, I look forward to supporting this outstanding team in the future as it continues to grow the Robert Half business."

Frederick A. Richman, the company's lead outside Director, commented, "We are extraordinarily fortunate that Mr. Messmer will continue as Executive Chairman and will remain involved in areas that are most important to Robert Half's continued growth. We are equally fortunate that Mr. Waddell will serve as CEO and that we have the benefit of an outstanding team of other executives, most of whom have at least two decades of experience with the company."

In other company news, Robert Half's Board of Directors today approved a quarterly cash dividend of $.31 per share. The cash dividend will be paid on December 13, 2019, to all shareholders of record as of November 25, 2019.

Founded in 1948, Robert Half is the world's first and largest specialized staffing firm and a recognized leader in professional consulting and staffing services. The company's specialized staffing divisions include Accountemps^®, Robert Half^® Finance & Accounting and Robert Half^® Management Resources, for temporary, full-time and senior-level project professionals, respectively, in the fields of accounting and finance; OfficeTeam^®, for highly skilled administrative support professionals; Robert Half^® Technology, for project and full-time technology professionals; Robert Half^® Legal, for project and full-time staffing of lawyers, paralegals and legal support personnel; and The Creative Group^®, for creative, digital, marketing, advertising and public relations professionals. Robert Half also is the parent company of Protiviti^®, a global consulting firm that provides clients with consulting solutions in finance, technology, operations, data, analytics, governance, risk and internal audit. Robert Half has staffing and consulting operations in more than 400 locations worldwide.

SOURCE Robert Half