CTI Staffing buys Boston's PeopleSERVE in first of planned acquisition spree

What's the deal? CTI StaffingDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → has acquired Boston-based PeopleSERVE Inc.Dealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, effective August 21, 2026, folding the recruiter's client relationships and hiring capabilities into its workforce solutions business. Terms were not disclosed.

What each side brings: Founded in 1998, Fort Lauderdale-based CTI is a staffing firm with an international footprint across three continents. PeopleSERVE is recognised for personalised staffing and connecting professionals with employers across multiple industries.

What's the endgame? The combined firm will offer clients broader recruiting resources and expanded onshore, nearshore, and offshore delivery. CTI says the deal accelerates its aim of becoming one of the premier staffing providers in the US.

Why now? Chief executive officer Jason Silver framed the acquisition as the start of a broader plan. "This is the first in a series of strategic acquisitions that CTI will pursue as part of our aggressive growth strategy," he said.

In their words: "This isn't about simply getting bigger. It's about getting better," Silver said, adding that the goal is to combine "two teams with storied track records" while keeping personalised service central.

The signal: The deal points to continued consolidation in staffing, where firms are buying scale and layering nearshore and offshore delivery onto domestic networks. For CTI, PeopleSERVE is a first tuck-in — and a marker of more to come.

Image credit: PeopleSERVE