Key facts
- Savannah Group, a UK headhunter, was acquired by 6 Group after entering administration.
- The acquisition includes Savannah Group's AI talent search platform, MapX.
- Savannah Group cited financial pressures for its collapse.
- Savannah Group's revenue fell 20% to £12.4m in the year to July 2024.
- The company's debt rose to £270,100 in 2024.
- MapX has compiled a database of senior managers and board directors across millions of companies.
6 Group has acquired Savannah Group, a London-based executive recruitment consultancy, after the latter fell into administration in July due to financial pressures. The deal, revealed by City AM, includes Savannah Group's AI talent search platform, MapX.
James Beazley, founder and director of 6 Group, stated he was surprised by Savannah Group's collapse, as it was considered a reputable firm. He learned of the sale on an insolvency marketplace and acted quickly to secure the purchase.
Savannah Group's financial filings from July 2025 showed a 20% revenue drop to £12.4m in the year to July 2024, with debt rising to £270,100, nearly 5.5 times higher than the previous year. Administrators sought a swift sale, with expressions of interest requested within 24 hours.
Beazley described the acquisition as a "logical fit" for 6 Group's two-year growth program. 6 Group, which focuses on headhunting in sectors like oil and gas, financial services, and retail, will integrate Savannah Group's intellectual property, client base, and employees, including the engineering team for MapX, which had previously hired staff from Apple, Google, Nest, and OpenAI.
Savannah Group began developing MapX in 2019 to expedite talent searches and launched it for consultant use in 2022. The platform, which has compiled a database of senior managers and board directors globally, is described by Beazley as an "absolute gamechanger" compared to existing talent platforms.