Press Release · 3 minute read
Tenzing backs market-leading talent assessment and development platform
18th April 2023
Today, European tech investor Tenzing announced an agreement with WTW, a leading global advisory, broking and solutions company, to acquire its talent assessment business, Saville Assessment (“Saville”).
The investment will see Tenzing acquire a market leader in psychometric assessment at a time when hiring and retaining the right talent has never been more critical for organisations. With nearly 20 years of experience in this fast-evolving industry, Saville is ideally placed to support its clients for growth through innovative talent strategies.
Saville provides a suite of award-winning assessment tools including Wave, its flagship personality questionnaires, as well as aptitude tests, talent analytics and situational judgment tests to accurately predict workplace performance and identify high potential talent. Its products are available in over 35 languages, sold in 80 countries, and utilised by global brands including Jaguar Land Rover, Ricoh and Perfetti Van Melle. The business’ reputation for superior scientific validity and predictive accuracy has earned Saville the industry leading rating by the British Psychological Society (BPS).
With Tenzing’s backing, Saville will benefit from further investment into sales and marketing and new product launches using the Wave model, to drive accelerated growth in the UK and internationally. To support its evolution, the business will be able to opt-in for support from Tenzing’s entrepreneur-led Growth Team, drawing on the expertise of a Sherpa, Entrepreneurs Panel, Subject Specialists and a dedicated Acquisitions Director.
Rab MacIver, Co-CEO and Head of R&D at Saville Assessment, commented: “By leveraging the Tenzing Growth Team’s expertise there is a real opportunity to accelerate the growth of our business together. Tenzing have a strong appreciation for the science that underpins Saville’s assessment solutions and the ambition to unlock the true potential of our business. The whole team are excited about the opportunity to bring new and enhanced solutions to more of our clients.”
“Having spent over two decades developing its award-winning assessment tools, Saville has a well-earned position in the market as the leading provider for scientific validity, giving its clients confidence to make the best people decisions. We’re really excited to partner with the team there, share our extensive expertise in the HCM market and look forward to leveraging the full extent of our Growth Team to help further enhance its technology, invest in its go-to-market strategies and further expand its global footprint.”
Milan Kellner – Investment Lead at Tenzing
As part of the acquisition, Saville will remain WTW’s preferred assessment software partner, and WTW will continue to support Saville’s products in its client-facing activities.
Suzanne McAndrew, Global Employee Experience Business Leader, WTW, said: “Tenzing offers Saville an excellent opportunity to develop and thrive as it enters its next phase of growth. We look forward to continuing to partner with Saville, and its colleagues, to bring winning, integrated solutions to our clients.”
Saville is the eighth investment within Tenzing’s £400m Fund II, which started investing in 2021, and is one of fifteen high-growth businesses within the Tenzing portfolio. Tenzing was advised on the investment by Alantra, Osborne Clarke, RSM and EY Parthenon. Boxington and CMS acted as advisors to WTW, with Liberty Corporate Finance advising Saville. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2023.