Executive recruiter NDK International has been acquired in a management buy-out.

The firm plans to rebrand and shift its core focus onto psychometric assessment, coaching and mentoring, leadership development, recruitment process outsourcing, team development, engagement, succession planning and talent management services, whilst retaining a stake in recruitment and continuing to service its clients.

The firm was purchased for an undisclosed sum by new joint managing partners, Simon Kerevan and Alex Martin, and involved private equity investment through the Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS).

Kerevan, said: “After seven years growing NDK its founder, Neil Kelly, was looking to take a break and exit the business. Alex and I saw the potential to change the direction of the business and focus on a niche market and we decided it was a great opportunity to acquire the company.

“Unlike many organisations, we are seeing the credit crunch as an opportunity to really help businesses make the most of the people they have. People are an organisation’s most vital asset and in these challenging financial conditions we are working with companies large and small, enabling them to put strategies in place to develop, retain and maximise the talent they have. This approach should see companies survive the current economic situation and put them ahead of the competition when the upturn returns.”