Atlantic International Corp. announced a transformative acquisition on Friday, purchasing European IT staffing giant Circle8 Group in an all-stock transaction. The deal creates a massive global workforce solutions platform with approximately $1.2 billion in annual revenue, positioning the Englewood Cliffs-based firm as a dominant player in both industrial and high-tech talent markets.
The acquisition unites Atlantic’s North American industrial staffing operations—primarily managed through its Lyneer Staffing Solutions subsidiary—with Circle8’s premier European IT network.
Circle8 Group is not just a staffing firm; it is the Official IT Global Talent Matching Partner for the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One® Team. Based in the Netherlands and operating across Germany, Switzerland, and Belgium, Circle8 manages over 12,000 technology professionals.
In 2025, Circle8 generated approximately $780 million in revenue and is projected to hit the $1 billion milestone organically by the end of 2026. By bringing this high-margin IT expertise into the Atlantic portfolio, the company significantly diversifies its revenue away from traditional “light industrial” staffing.
The deal is built on a “cross-continental” strategy. Atlantic’s U.S. clients in food production and logistics often require IT talent for their European divisions, while Circle8’s Fortune 500 tech clients frequently need industrial support for their North American footprints.
“We’re not just acquiring a company—we’re welcoming a team of proven operators,” said Jeffrey Jagid, CEO of Atlantic International Corp. “Circle8’s exceptional growth trajectory and market-leading position in European IT staffing meaningfully advance our strategy.”
As part of the merger:
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Guus Franke, founder of Circle8, will join Atlantic’s board of directors as executive chairman.
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Circle8 will continue to operate as a wholly owned subsidiary, maintaining its operational autonomy.
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The combined entity now boasts a workforce of over 24,000 employees paid weekly across two continents.
