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Under New Management MaxSys Sold to Agilus: What the Future Holds

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By Adrian Olivier

MAXSYS, ONE OF Canada’s largest independently owned staffing firms, has been sold to Agilus, a prominent player in the recruitment industry.

Bryan Brulotte founded Maxsys in 1993 as the sole employee working out of his basement in Ottawa. Over the subsequent three decades he grew the company into a multi-million dollar enterprise.

New Opportunities

The sale was finalized on August 1st, 2024. The acquisition by Agilus was the result of discussions between MaxSys founder and CEO Bryan Brulotte and Agilus’s CEO. Brulotte expressed his satisfaction with the sale, citing a sense of accomplishment and the financial benefits accompanying such a transaction. He emphasized that the decision to sell was not only about the financial windfall but also about the new opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.

He said learning to sell was probably the hardest thing he’s ever done in his life. Having read a couple of books on sales techniques and armed with his army shoes and two suits, he went door to door.

As part of the agreement, Brulotte will transition into the role of Executive Vice President at Agilus. In this capacity, he will provide strategic insight, business development, and support during the integration of MaxSys into Agilus. His role will also involve acting as a brand ambassador, representing Agilus at various events. The integration process will be conducted carefully to ensure that the strengths of both companies are leveraged effectively.

Currently, no job losses are expected among the staff, and the goal is to create a smooth transition. Founded in 1993 after leaving the army and a brief stint in politics, MaxSys grew from a small operation run out of Brulotte’s basement into a national enterprise with revenues nearing $100 million. Brulotte started the company because no one would hire him.

Over the years Bryan Brulotte (left) has made a name for himself as a prominent philanthropist assisting military themed charities.

Building His Business

“The answer, which is kind of funny but true, is that I was desperate,” he said. With absolutely no experience in cold call selling, he developed a routine of making 100 calls a day. “At that time, what they used to have was a government phone book. It was quite thick for Ottawa with all the different government departments. I started at the A’s and I just started calling a hundred calls a day and left voicemails or talked to people,” he said.

Brulotte was seeking a meeting or the opportunity to make a presentation, which he was good at. He said learning to sell was probably the hardest thing he’s ever done in his life. Having read a couple of books on sales techniques and armed with his army shoes and two suits, he went door to door.

“I had a grey suit and a blue suit. And I’d wear the blue suit on Monday, the grey suit on Tuesday, the blue top with the grey pants on Wednesday, and then the grey top with the blue pants on Thursday, and then on Friday I’d do my interviews with prospective candidates. And then I’d start over again,” he said.

After serving for 46 years in the Canadian Army, ten years of which were in the role of honorary colonel of the GGFG, nationally renowned businessman Bryan Brulotte retired from the Canadian Army. Honorary Colonel Omar Abouzaher became the GGFG’s honorary colonel at Change of Appointment ceremony in April.

Unrelenting Attitude

This unrelenting attitude paid off. Brulotte got his first break three months later and, by the end of his first year, had generated two million in revenue. The company, which does between 35-40 percent of its business with the federal government, fills about 15,000 job positions per year. Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and an ongoing economic downturn, MaxSys remained a profitable firm in the industry, with nine offices across Canada by the time of the sale.

Even though he’s sold his company, Brulotte said he still needs a professional challenge in his life. “I’m going to continue working,” he said. Brulotte expressed his interest in working in politics again. “I’ve always had an interest in, everyone knows this, in politics. I’ve always been interested in politics, so the timing might be right for that,” he said.

He will also continue his philanthropic work supporting veterans, his church, women’s shelters and the homeless.

“It’s important to help our brothers and sisters in society. It is incumbent on us all to take responsibility and give back to our community,” Brulotte said.