Hays CEO Mark Dearnley Confirmed After Interim Role

British recruitment group Hays has confirmed the permanent appointment of Mark Dearnley as its chief executive officer, effective May 18, 2026. Dearnley had been fulfilling the role on an interim basis for the preceding three months. The company's board expressed unanimous confidence in his leadership skills and experience.

Dearnley, who previously held the position of Hays' chief digital and technology officer, was selected for the permanent role after a competitive selection process involving both internal and external candidates. His confirmation occurs during a challenging period for the recruitment industry. Hays and its peers are contending with a sustained slowdown in hiring, influenced by a confluence of factors including macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions.