Matchtech Group’s choice of Gattaca as its new name reflects the genetic history of the international recruitment group, according to chief executive Brian Wilkinson.

The name change, announced this morning, follows the group's acquisition of Networkers International last year.

Explaining the reasoning behind the change, a group statement, released this morning, reveals research conducted among group employees, candidates, current and potential clients found the group brand name Matchtech Group and operating engineering brand Matchtech sharing the same name could cause confusion.

But Wilkinson told Recruiter the group’s name change was also inspired by the theme of DNA picked up in the research the firm carried out into its brand, as the four letters within Gattaca are the initial letters of the four strands of DNA. The research revealed that its clients saw it as a “very warm” company to do business with, while staff said they felt they were part of a family, Wilkinson told Recruiter.

“Matchtech was set up in 1984 by a chap called George Materna, who is still with us and sits on our board, and is a huge influence on the company. He has engendered this paternalistic family style,” Wilkinson added.

“We thought the Gattaca name encapsulates quite nicely the importance of our genetic history, our DNA in the evolution of the business, and reflects the fact that while we are all different as individuals and we work in different business units, whether it’s cyber security or aerospace or infrastructure, despite all those differences we are part of the same family. We share the same genetic code.”

The group will continue to trade through core brands Matchtech and Networkers, with Matchtech retained as the core engineering recruitment specialist, incorporating the engineering division of Networkers. CAPPO continues to provide oil & gas recruitment in international markets. Networkers will act as the lead technology recruiter, incorporating Matchtech Group IT brand Connectus, while Provanis will continue to operate in the Oracle market and will be associated with Networkers.

Wilkinson added the group name change also reflects a desire to ensure Networkers and Matchtech are seen as equally important parts of the group. “Having the same brand as an operating company and as a holding company, given the shape we’re now in didn’t make a lot of sense to us.

“Having the Gattaca brand available to us means we can provide solutions to our clients encompassing both technology and engineering with that brand. Gattaca can bring together information technology, communications and engineering skills, and the supply chain and an RPO [recruitment process outsourcing], if that’s what a client wants, under the Gattaca brand.”

With an eye on the future, Wilkinson revealed Matchtech is set for international expansion. “Matchtech continues to work for the engineering sector and is now being rolled out internationally, so you will see Matchtech in North America, South-East Asia, in the Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa as we work on engineering projects there.”

The group added it expects a shareholder circular to be despatched shortly and assuming necessary shareholder approvals are provided, its name change will become effective from September 2016, with trading in group shares conducted under the new Gattaca name.

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