Rebranding is not an option for the businesses in Hot Group’s recruitment consultancy division, the company’s incoming managing director has admitted.

Chris Herrmannsen, who takes up his post as managing director of the recruitment consultancy division on 19 November, sees the companies retaining their niche market status. Companies within the division include Parkside Recruitment, ITN Teachers, The Buzz, Mark Education and ASA.

The new managing director joins from Hudson Highland Group, where he was president of the company’s European recruitment and HR consulting operations.

On his new role, Herrmannsen told Recruiter: “I think it’s a very big challenge. On a personal level, it’s very different to Hudson in that it’s equally ambitious but at a much earlier stage of development.

“We want to pool together the businesses with specific expertise in niche markets. And our intention is not to change the names of our companies,” he added.

Herrmannsen revealed that Hot Group was also looking to add IT recruitment to its footholds in leisure, education, financial and legal services.

Herrmannsen started his career in recruitment with Hays in 1989, before joining HW Group as a consultant where he progressed to group managing director prior to switching to Hudson Highland.