Shares jitter at City recruiter Hays after taking chop to operations
City PM
Published Jun 17, 2026 Reviewed Jun 30, 2026 ✓ Reviewed by citations.press editors
Mark Dearnley is chief executive of Hays.
Mark Dearnley, chief executive of Hays
Hays reported operating profit of £20.1 million in the last financial year, 25 % lower than the prior year.
20.1 GBP · operating profit25 · profit decline
Hays, human resources firm
Hays banked £4 million from the sale of operations in six Central‑European countries.
4 GBP · sale proceeds
Hays, human resources firm
Hays offloaded operations across six countries.
6 · countries
Hays, human resources firm
Hays’ share price opened up 3 % to about 38p.
3 · share‑price increaseabout 38 pence · share price
Hays, human resources firm
Hays’ fees fell by 9 % during the year.
9 · fees decline
Hays, human resources firm
SThree’s UK fees fell 19 % to £11.6 million.
19 · fees decline11.6 GBP · UK fees
SThree, SThree
The combined operating profit for 13 targeted countries is expected to break‑even next financial year with about £85 million in net fees.
13 · countriesabout 85 GBP · net fees
Hays, human resources firm
Former Hays CEO Dirk Hahn stepped down after 28 years at the company.
28 years · tenure
Hays, human resources firm
SThree’s fees grew 12 % in the US and 36 % in Japan.
12 · fee growth36 · fee growth
SThree, SThree
Hays announced its new chief executive in May after an interim period that began in February 2026.
2026 · start of interim period
Hays, human resources firm
Hays revealed it had offloaded operations across six different countries.
6 countries · operations offloaded
Hays, recruiter
Hays, a FTSE 250 human resources firm, said it had banked £4m on the sale of operations in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Luxembourg, Romania and Sweden.
4 £m · banked on sale
Hays, FTSE 250 human resources firm
Hays expects the transaction to lead to a non-cash loss on sale to be recognised in the second half of 2026.
2026 · recognition of non-cash loss
Hays, group
The combined operating profit for the 13 countries targeted in Hays' reshaping is expected to break-even in the next financial year with around £85m in net fees.
13 countries · targeted in reshapingabout 85 £m · net fees
Hays, firm
Hays' stock was up three per cent to nearly 38p on open.
3 % · stock increaseabout 38 p · stock price
Hays, firm
Accountancy firm BDO’s employment index hit a 15 year low in March.
15 years · low for employment index
BDO, accountancy firm
Mark Dearnley was unveiled as Hays’ new top boss in May, having served on an interim basis since February 2026, following previous boss Dirk Hahn stepping down after 28 years at the London-listed company.
28 years · Dirk Hahn tenure
article, reporter
Hays' operating profit came in at £20.1m for the firm in the last financial year, down 25 per cent when compared with the same period the year prior.
20.1 £m · operating profit25 % · operating profit decrease
Hays, firm
Hays, the recruiter, suffered from a nine per cent drop in fees.
9 % · fees drop
Hays, recruiter
STEM-focused recruiter SThree revealed a slump across its UK operations this week with fees falling 19 per cent to £11.6m.
19 % · fees falling11.6 £m · fees
SThree, STEM-focused recruiter
SThree’s group-wide fee slump was softened by 12 per cent growth in the US and 36 per cent in Japan.
12 % · growth36 % · growth
SThree, recruiter
Shares in Hays see-sawed on Wednesday morning as the recruiter revealed it had offloaded operations across six different countries.
The FTSE 250 human resources firm said it had banked £4m on the sale of operations in the Czech Republic, Denmark, Hungary, Luxembourg, Romania and Sweden.
The group expects the transaction to lead to a non-cash loss on sale to be recognised in the second half of 2026.
It added it was “exploring options” in Belgium, Brazil, Greater China, the Netherlands and UAE to further shake-up its portfolio.
The combined operating profit for the 13 countries targeted in the reshaping is expected to break-even in the next financial year with around £85m in net fees.
The firm’s stock was up three per cent to nearly 38p on open before falling into the red as investors digested the move.
Mark Dearnley, chief executive of Hays, said: “Reshaping our portfolio to provide a sharper focus and build scale in high performing and high potential markets remains a key strategic priority for Hays.”
The move comes amid a bruising period for the jobs market. In the UK, acountancy firm BDO’s employment index hit a 15 year low in March as firms remained cautious over cost pressures.
Dearney was unveiled as Hays’ new top boss in May having served on an interim basis since February 2026, following previous boss Dirk Hahn stepping down for “personal reasons” after 28 years at the London-listed company.
Operating profit came in at £20.1m for the firm in the last financial year, down 25 per cent when compared with the same period the year prior.
The recruiter suffered from a nine per cent drop in fees, which it blamed on weak confidence among employers and candidates leading to a low average placement of roles and longer decision-making.
STEM-focused recruiter SThree revealed a slump across its UK operations this week with fees falling 19 per cent to £11.6m.
SThree’s group-wide fee slump was softened by 12 per cent growth in the US and 36 per cent in Japan.
