Spherion Teams with Accenture to Launch ITs New eTalent Solutions Subsidiary, Enthusian
New Entity Creates Web-Based Management Solutions for Acquiring, Developing and Retaining Quality Talent
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. and NEW YORK, Sept. 19 -- Spherion Corporation (NYSE: SFN), a recognized leader in human capital management, has teamed with Accenture, a leading global management and technology consulting firm, in the launch of Spherion’s new subsidiary, Enthusian(SM).
Enthusian builds on Spherion’s successful InterimIT.com and TalentZone products, as a supplier-neutral business services provider that combines human capital consulting services and advanced technology to create web-based solutions for acquiring, developing and retaining quality talent. The combined Spherion and Accenture real world experience in human capital consulting and technology will be applied to e-enable and integrate talent management processes to maximize HR effectiveness.
As part of the alliance, Accenture will take an equity interest in Enthusian. In addition, Accenture will provide consulting services to enhance the technological platform and applications for Enthusian, as well as provide advice to the Enthusian leadership team on the direction of this new venture. Both organizations will seek to leverage their Fortune Global 1000 client relationships to build the business.
Ray Marcy, president of Spherion, commented, "The acquisition, development and retention of human capital is the most ineffective function companies operate today -- yet it is arguably the most important. The ’war for talent’ has shifted from prediction to reality and has become a top priority of nearly every CEO. Enthusian is winning this war for talent on behalf of our clients because it combines the best of brick-and-mortar experience with the highest level of innovation found on the Web."
Marcy continued, "With Accenture, we have teamed with one of the world’s foremost leaders in bringing powerful web-based solutions to the marketplace. Together, we intend to bring Enthusian’s state-of-the-art solutions to companies worldwide, enhancing their effectiveness at building and managing their human capital."
Bob Hunter, a partner in Accenture’s Human Performance service line said, "We believe that Enthusian offers a strong value-added solution in the web-based sourcing and retention market. Many companies take a fragmented approach to attracting and retaining quality talent. By contrast, Spherion has anticipated the need to provide companies with web-based talent solutions that cut across all skills sets and levels within an organization."
Hunter continued, "In addition, we believe this new venture offers an opportunity to provide companies with one-stop access to all potential sources of quality talent -- internal resources, staffing and recruiting firms and the vast landscape of Internet job boards."
The new subsidiary will be headed by Wayne Mincey, who was previously President of Spherion’s Global Alliance Group which manages the Company’s largest client relationships. Previously, he headed the Norrell Technology Consulting division acquired by Spherion in July 1999. Mincey has spent the last several months developing the business strategy to extend Spherion’s leadership position in web-enabled human capital solutions. This has included the specific plans for the launch of Enthusian, which will build significantly on the Company’s current e-recruiting client solutions. All costs associated with the creation and launch of Enthusian are included in Spherion’s full-year EPS estimates of $1.54 - $1.63.
Commenting on trending demands in the e-solutions space, Ted Kempf, Senior Analyst with Dataquest of Gartner Group, commented, "We are leaving e-commerce behind and entering c-commerce or "collaborative commerce" -- the integration of internal and external e-enabled processes to include suppliers, customers and employees for increased operating efficiency." Gartner Group is a recognized thought leader on technology industry trends.
According to Mincey, "Spherion has anticipated the move to c-commerce with the launch of Enthusian. We are on the cutting edge having already developed web-based human capital solutions which integrate the service supply chain with a client’s workflow processes, in-line with the new c-commerce model recognized by Gartner Group."
About Spherion
Spherion Corporation is a $3.8 billion human capital management company with 1,000 offices in 12 countries. As workforce architects, Spherion helps companies efficiently deploy human capital to improve their bottom line. Unlike any other company, Spherion provides a continuous partnership to clients through its unique three-tiered model of consulting, diagnosing and implementing solutions in the areas of recruiting, staffing, technology and outsourcing. Visit the company’s web site at www.spherion.com.
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Tricia Chamberlain
Media Contact, Media ContactSpherion
+1 (954) 489 6178
triciachamberlain@spherion.com
Tabitha Zane
Investor Contact, Investor ContactSpherion
+1 (954) 489 6334