Recruiter.com Group, Inc. appointed Granger Whitelaw as new CEO

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers.


Officer and Director Appointment


Granger Whitelaw - Appointment as Chief Executive Officer


On March 7, 2024, Miles Jennings resigned as Chief Executive Officer and President of Recruiter.com Group, Inc. (the "Company"), and effective as of March 7, 2024, the Company appointed Granger Whitelaw as the Company's new Chief Executive Officer and President. Miles Jennings will continue in his role as a member of the board and interim Chief Financial Officer. 


Mr. Whitelaw, 57, brings the Company over 30 years of executive experience in finance, operations, sales, marketing, mergers, public offerings, private equity financings, corporate governance and business development. He has successfully built and advised multiple businesses across several industries, including media, aviation, racing, entertainment, software, technology, consumer products and real estate, both in the U.S. and internationally. Since July 12, 2023, he has served as the CEO of GoLogiq, Inc. Over the last several years, he has worked for The Vietnam Group, a business advisory and consulting firm based in Ho Chi Minh City that provides supply chain, financial, governmental and digital services. He is the founder and CEO of the Raybar Group, a global management consulting agency that includes subsidiary companies such as The Vietnam Group, Transpacific Media, Pharmacy Advisors Limited, ParaStem Health, as well as the Lotus Talks podcast. 


He is a founding benefactor of the XPrize Foundation and the co-founder and CEO of the Rocket Racing League, where he led the development of software, gaming platforms, and aeronautic technology development. He founded EBS Ltd in Bermuda, an early SaaS software company. He also served as EVP of CoreCommerce, a leading SaaS eCommerce platform acquired in 2016 by a group of entrepreneurs and business executives. He is a founding partner of TrendSphere, a Think Tank for CIOs. He also earlier served as banker at a leading investment bank, Cowan Financial Group, in New York City.


As an avid philanthropist, Whitelaw has founded several organizations aimed at making a difference in the world. This includes the Amber Development Group for the Amber Alert program, a technology platform that helps to locate missing children.


He serves on the board of directors for GoLogiq, Inc. since March 15, 2022 and BZani Animation. He previously served on the board of directors of Coffee Masters, Vemics, 360 Global Wine Co, and TRG International. He also served as chairman of the board for Benfe Motors, an electric motorcycle manufacturer and distributor in Southeast Asia. 


Appointment as Director


On March 7, 2024, the Company accepted the resignation of Robert Heath and appointed Granger Whitelaw to the Company's Board of Directors. There was no arrangement or understanding between Mr. Whitelaw and any other person with respect to his appointment to the Board of Directors. There have been no transactions, nor are there any currently proposed transactions, in which the Company was or is to be a participant and in which Mr. Whitelaw or any member of his immediate family, had, or will have, a direct or indirect material interest.


Director Appointment


On March 7, 2024, the Company accepted the resignation of Timothy O'Rourke and appointed Lillian Mbeki as an independent director to the Company's Board of Directors. Ms. Mbeki has been the Chief Executive Officer of ELLEM Marketing & Communications LTD since July 2013. She was awarded a Doctorate in Business Administration from Edinburgh Business School, Herriot Watt University, UK in 2015, a Master of Science in Health Systems Management from Kenyatta University, Kenya in 2011, a MBA with Specialism in Strategy & Negotiation from Edinburgh Business School, Herriot Watt University, UK in 2011 and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from University of Nairobi, Kenya in 2000.


Ms. Mbeki will serve on the Board's Audit, Compensation, and Nominating Committees. Ms. Mbeki will be eligible to receive compensation for her service on the Board of Directors consistent with that provided to all non-employee directors, which is described under the caption "Compensation of Non-Employee Directors" in the Company's definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 11, 2024, as adjusted by the Board of Directors from time to time. There was no arrangement or understanding between Ms. Mbeki and any other person with respect to her appointment to the Board of Directors. There have been no transactions, nor are there any currently proposed transactions, in which the Company was or is to be a participant and in which Ms. Mbeki or any member of her immediate family, had, or will have, a direct or indirect material interest.