Following the acquisition of Encore Personnel, of which Taylor was MD, Gi Group has now successfully completed the merger of the two businesses.

As MD Gi Group Staffing UK & Ireland, Taylor succeeds Paul Smith, who was at Gi Group for nearly two decades, mostly recently as COO. Taylor has spent 26 years working in the recruitment sector, the last 17 of which involved building Encore into the dynamic company that Gi acquired at the end of 2022.

On his appointment, Taylor said: “I’m honoured to be taking the baton, as it were, from Paul who has demonstrated in the short time we have worked together how investment in and dedication to the people of Gi Group is the key to success in this very important role. 

“Having steered the Encore ship through some of the choppiest waters in our history, during the pandemic and its aftermath, I feel prepared for, whilst also incredibly humbled, to be taking on the responsibility of the position of MD for our now much larger, united business, which has the combined potential to change thousands of lives for the better.”

Gi Group operates more than 26 branches and 60 sites across the UK, employing 650 people nationally. It has established a branch in every major city in the UK with plans for further expansion over the coming months.

Paulo Canoa, country manager Gi Group UK, said: “We wish Paul the very best and thank him for his 18 years’ service, having been with us from the very start and being instrumental in the development of the business from a small independent recruiter to where it is now, the second largest country in Gi Group globally. 

“This will be an exciting new chapter for Gi UK, and the whole business joins me in wishing Pete every success in his new role.”

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