MCG Talent completes 7-figure management buy-out

MCG Talent, the specialist marketing, communications, creative and digital recruitment firm, has completed a seven-figure management buy-out, transferring majority ownership of its Middle East and Asia operations to CEO Charlie Bowsher while allowing founder Justin McGuire to take partial liquidity and remain closely involved.

The transaction follows a management buy-out completed in August last year, when Bowsher acquired the firm’s Asia-Pacific business in Hong Kong and Singapore, marking McGuire’s full operational exit from Asia and a strategic sharpening of focus on the Gulf.

Financial terms were not disclosed. McGuire said only that the transaction was a “seven-figure” deal.

McGuire said the latest deal was a continuation of a deliberate, founder-led transition rather than a response to market pressure, despite interest from external buyers.

“It wasn’t about headline valuation,” McGuire told Arabian Business in an exclusive interview. “You can achieve strong valuations through a management buy-out as well. The bigger concern for me was disconnect.”

He said past experience with acquisitions, both personal and professional, shaped his decision to avoid selling to third-party buyers.

“My wife sold Diversely to The Access Group in the UK, and I was closely involved in that transaction as the lead investor. I saw the due diligence process up close and how things can change post-sale when ownership is removed from the day-to-day reality of the business,” he said.

“I’ve also watched friends and family go through similar acquisitions, and too often the outcome isn’t what was promised.”

MBO ensures continuity and independence

By contrast, McGuire said a management buy-out preserved independence, culture and client relationships — a critical consideration for a service-led recruitment firm.

“With an MBO, continuity is protected. The business stays independent, client relationships are preserved, and leadership remains with people who already understand the DNA of the firm,” he said.

“The way we structured this deal also creates meaningful long-term upside, not just an initial price. For a service business, particularly recruitment, a management buy-out is one of the most logical and sustainable ways to transition ownership.”

Under the transaction, Bowsher assumes day-to-day leadership as chief executive, while McGuire remains Chairman and Advisor, retaining a client-facing and strategic role during and beyond the transition period.

“The priority is stability and continuity,” McGuire said. “Clients should feel no disruption, and the team should feel the same leadership and culture they’ve always known.”

He added that his continued presence in the UAE was a deliberate part of the structure.

“I have a strong personal brand in the Middle East and remain a UAE resident, which allows me to stay connected on the ground,” he said. “I’ll continue to support senior hiring, help grow the team in Dubai, and ensure new leaders understand our clients and how we operate. That access to the founder matters.”

From a growth perspective, McGuire said the firm would focus on disciplined expansion across the Gulf, building on a lean, partner-led operating model introduced over the past two years.

“It’s about strengthening senior hiring capability and continuing to invest in offshore delivery, while growing without losing what made the business successful in the first place,” he said.

Founded in 2010 as a Middle East-focused recruitment firm, MCG Talent now operates across the UAE and Saudi Arabia, supported by offshore delivery teams in Sri Lanka, the Philippines and South Africa, and works with clients across marketing, communications, creative and digital functions.

“There will be no disruption to clients, teams or delivery,” McGuire said. “This is about continuity, culture and momentum, and setting the business up properly for its next phase.”