Kelly Services Acquires The Ayers Group

19 May 2006

Company broadens portfolio with career transition services and organisational effectiveness consulting.

Kelly Services, Inc., a global staffing solutions provider, today announced it has acquired The Ayers Group, a New York-based career management firm with estimated 2006 revenue of $10 million.

Since 1975, The Ayers Group has built a solid reputation with companies in a wide range of industries through their customised career transition, consulting services and information technology staffing. The Ayers Group operates four offices in New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey. The company is and will remain a partner firm of Career Partners International, an organisation of 60 leading human resources consulting firms with 175 offices in 43 countries.

The addition of The Ayers Group to Kelly’s existing Professional, Technical and Staffing Alternatives business segment, provides a broader, more integrated human resources solution for our clients and significantly strengthens our service portfolio to successfully address client needs throughout all phases of the economic cycle. As part of the transaction, William Ayers, The Ayers Group’s founder and CEO, will become vice president and business unit leader. Ayers will continue to lead The Ayers Group as a division of Kelly Services.

"The acquisition of The Ayers Group is a central component of our strategy to provide comprehensive talent management solutions to our global customers," said Carl Camden, president and chief executive officer.  "We are very excited about the completion of this acquisition, and welcome the talented management team and employees of The Ayers Group to the Kelly organisation.”

“We are delighted to join Kelly Services, a highly regarded company with integrity along with a reputation and commitment to the highest quality service to its customers,” said William Ayers, vice president and business unit leader. “By combining our collective strengths and expertise, our customers will benefit from our new and enhanced service offerings as well as our expanded global footprint.”

ANALYST CONTACT:
James Polehna             
(248) 244-4586
james_polehna@kellyservices.com

MEDIA CONTACT:
Renee Walker
(248) 244-5362
renee_walker@kellyservices.com