Kelly appoints Chris Layden as new CEO effective September 2

TROY, Michigan - Kelly (NASDAQ:KELYA, KELYB), a specialty talent solutions provider currently trading at a modest 0.35 times book value, announced Thursday that Chris Layden will become president and chief executive officer effective September 2, 2025, succeeding retiring CEO Peter Quigley. According to InvestingPro analysis, the company appears undervalued based on its Fair Value estimate, with additional metrics suggesting potential upside.

Quigley will remain as a strategic advisor during the transition period and continue serving on the company’s board of directors until Kelly’s Annual Shareholders Meeting in May 2026.

Layden most recently served as chief operating officer of Prolink, where he led initiatives that achieved organic growth and strengthened competitive positioning. Prior to Prolink, he spent nearly two decades at ManpowerGroup in various senior leadership roles.

"Chris brings a track record of executing enterprise-scale transformations and driving commercial excellence," said Terrence Larkin, chairman of Kelly’s board of directors, in a press release statement.

Layden expressed enthusiasm about joining Kelly, stating he looks forward to "partnering with the talented Kelly team to seize on the tremendous opportunities ahead."

Quigley, who has been with Kelly for 22 years, led the company’s transformation into a specialty talent solutions provider. Under his leadership, Kelly shifted toward higher margin business and enhanced organizational efficiency.

Kelly, founded in 1946, connects approximately 400,000 people with work annually and reported revenue of $4.3 billion in 2024. The company provides outsourcing and consulting services across industries including science, engineering, technology, education, manufacturing, retail, finance, and energy.

The company will provide additional details about the leadership transition during its second-quarter earnings call on August 7.

In other recent news, Kelly Services reported its financial results for the first quarter of 2025, showing a mixed performance. The company achieved a revenue of $1.16 billion, which exceeded expectations. However, its adjusted earnings per share (EPS) came in at $0.39, falling short of the projected $0.55. Despite the EPS miss, the revenue growth indicates a positive trend for the company. These developments have garnered attention from analysts and investors alike. The reaction from the stock market was positive, although specific stock price movements are not detailed here. Such mixed results often lead to varying interpretations from financial analysts. Investors are likely to keep a close eye on how Kelly Services addresses its earnings challenges in the upcoming quarters.

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