Harold M. Messmer, Jr. has been a key player in the staffing industry for over three decades, leading Robert Half International Inc. since he negotiated its purchase back in 1986 when the company was generating around $7 million a year...
Harold M. Messmer, Jr. has been a key player in the staffing industry for over three decades, leading Robert Half International Inc. since he negotiated its purchase back in 1986 when the company was generating around $7 million a year in revenue. Under his guidance, Robert Half grew dramatically, achieving about $5.25 billion in annual revenues by 2016. Messmer’s vision helped deliver an impressive cumulative return of over 3,022% to shareholders during his tenure. He notably focused on performance-driven compensation, with a large chunk of his salary tied to the company’s performance metrics like revenues and net income. In 2019, the total compensation he received was around $8.79 million, a significant portion coming from performance shares that relied on achieving specific company goals. Harold stepped down as CEO in December 2019 after 34 years, but his influence and strategies will likely continue to shape the company for years to come. He also engaged in substantial insider trading, showing his confidence in the company's future, with his holdings peaking over $101.77 million in early 2022.