Alain Dehaze

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Alain Dehaze – Life, Career, and Vision for the Future of Work

Discover the journey of Belgian business leader Alain Dehaze: from early roles in staffing and HR to leading Adecco, championing lifelong learning, and shaping the future of work globally.

Introduction

Alain Dehaze is a Belgian business executive best known for his role as CEO of the Adecco Group from 2015 to 2022. Under his leadership, the world’s largest staffing firm emphasized digital transformation, workforce reskilling, and a forward-looking vision for employment in a rapidly changing economy. Dehaze is also a prominent advocate for a renewed social contract—one that bridges skills gaps, automation, and lifelong learning.

Early Life, Education & Background

Alain Dehaze was born in 1963 in Belgium. commercial engineering at the ICHEC Brussels Management School, a well-regarded business school in Belgium.

His early career included roles in European companies such as Henkel and ISS A/S, where he gained experience across operations and management in multiple countries.

Career & Executive Leadership

Climbing the HR & Staffing Ladder

In 2000, Dehaze became Managing Director of Creyf’s Interim (a Belgian staffing firm, later part of Start People) By 2002, he had moved to become CEO of Solvus, a human resources consultancy. In 2005, after Solvus was acquired by USG People, he became COO of USG People, overseeing integration and operations across the business. From 2007 to 2009, he served as CEO of Humares, a staffing services company in the Netherlands.

Tenure at the Adecco Group

Dehaze joined Adecco Group in September 2009 as Regional Head for Northern Europe. In 2011, he became the Regional Head for France, one of Adecco’s largest markets. In September 2015, he was appointed CEO of the Adecco Group, leading global operations across more than 60 countries. As CEO, Dehaze emphasized digital transformation, strategic acquisitions, building marketplace platforms, and preparing the company (and clients) for the future of work. He stepped down as CEO in June 2022.

Vision, Influence & Advocacy

Beyond managing a major global staffing firm, Dehaze has played an active role in shaping discussions around labor, skills, and the future of employment:

• He became Chair of the Global Apprenticeship Network (GAN) in 2016, promoting vocational training and pathways into work.

• Since 2017, he has served as a member of the ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work, contributing to policy thinking at the intersection of technology, labor, and social equity.

• He also held leadership positions in the World Employment Confederation Europe and the broader World Employment Confederation (formerly EUROCIETT)

• Dehaze is vocal about the need for a new social contract—one that accounts for automation, digital disruption, and the necessity for continuous reskilling and lifelong learning.

• After stepping down as CEO, he has also been involved as a business angel investor, backing tech and educational software startups (e.g. CourtCorrect, Wooclap, Zestmeup)

Personality & Leadership Style

Alain Dehaze is widely seen as a forward-thinking and pragmatic leader. During his Adecco tenure, he was regarded as someone who balances operational rigor with openness to innovation and change.

His public speaking often centers on future of work themes: how organizations and nations must adapt to automation, the gig economy, remote/hybrid models, and talent development.

He tends to frame challenges—skills gap, employment disruption—as opportunities for societal and business recalibration, not just threats.

Notable Quotes & Perspectives

While Alain Dehaze is not known for many oft-cited aphorisms, some of his perspectives include:

• He has warned that many of today’s jobs will be reshaped or replaced by automation, and that lifelong learning is not optional but essential.

• In speeches, he emphasizes bridging gaps between labor markets and education systems, and fostering inclusivity in employment so that no demographic is left behind in transitions.

Lessons & Significance

1. Leadership in transformation
   Dehaze’s tenure at Adecco highlights how legacy firms can adapt into digital, platform-oriented, talent ecosystems.

2. Vision beyond profits
   By advocating for a new social contract and lifelong learning, he underscores the role of business leaders in shaping equitable labor futures.

3. Bridging sectors
   His involvement with ILO, apprenticeships, and staffing connects private enterprise with societal and policy realms.

4. Resilience & reinvention
   His move into angel investing after a long CEO tenure shows willingness to evolve and engage new challenges.

Conclusion

Alain Dehaze is a prominent Belgian business leader whose career spans operations, staffing, corporate leadership, and labor policy. As former CEO of the Adecco Group, he carried forward a vision not only for staffing solutions, but for how work itself must evolve in the 21st century. His voice in global conversations about reskilling, automation, and inclusive employment makes him a significant figure for anyone interested in the future of work.