Partnership Forms Executive Search Powerhouse in the Design Industry

Boston, MA (January 25, 2001) — Aquent, the world’s largest talent agency for creative, Web and tech professionals, today announced its acquisition of RitaSue Siegel Resources, a company specializing in executive search for senior design and design management professionals. The acquisition broadens Aquent’s reach into the design industry and represents a combined 45 years of industry experience. RitaSue Siegel Resources will continue to operate under its own name.

“This acquisition represents a key strategic partnership that will better serve our clients, worldwide, and support design professionals throughout all levels - from CEOs to identity strategists to creative directors,” says John Chuang, Aquent’s co-founder and CEO. “RitaSue brings to the table more than 30 years of exceptional results in supporting clients’ business strategies by finding the most appropriate designers, senior design management, partners and strategic consultants for design firms as well as in-house corporate groups.”

The acquisition gives RitaSue Siegel Resources greater opportunities to place key senior design management professionals in all aspects of product, communications and environmental design, including graphic, industrial and exhibit design, corporate and brand identity, architecture, packaging, multimedia, usability and interior design.

“We look forward to joining forces with Aquent because of the depth of services we can now provide,” said RitaSue Siegel. “Aquent’s worldwide network of offices gives us a global pool of design talent from which to draw on regardless of where our client is located.”

Siegel founded RitaSue Siegel Resources in 1969 as the only search company, worldwide, for designers and design managers. She is the author of American Graphic Design; Thirty Years of Imagery; Design, Of Course, I Know What That Is; and How To Get a Job in Industrial Design and was one of three American lecturers selected to give the first course in design management in Japan. She has addressed attendees at national and regional conferences of The Design Management Institute, the American Institute of Graphic Arts, and the Industrial Designers Society of America, and schools such as the Art Center College of Design, Pratt Institute,

Auburn University, University of the Arts and Rhode Island School of Design.
Aquent is a $200 million specialized talent agency providing contract and permanent experts in the areas of creative, Web, and technology. In its 15-year history, Aquent has made more than 200,000 matches at client companies worldwide. Headquartered in Boston, Aquent leverages both the Internet and a network of 60 offices around the globe to provide freelance design professionals access to work, professional training and the same insurance, retirement, and cash-flow management benefits enjoyed by traditional W-2 workers. Aquent was recently named the Official Talent Agency of the American Institute of Graphic Arts and nominated as one of Massachusetts’ Interactive Companies of the Year.