The beginning
1957
Adia SA is founded by Henri Lavanchy in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Half a century ago, the world of work looked very different to today. We have been at the forefront of innovation ever since.
When we started, jobs for life were not only the norm – they were expected. Today, almost everything has changed. There’s increased temporary staffing and talent mobility and a need for employers to deliver working patterns that meet people’s needs without impacting business performance. We’ve been involved in every step, every transformation, and every new initiative. This is not just our story, but that of millions of people all over the world.
![Adecco Flexible Placement Adecco Flexible Placement](/-/media/project/adecco-group/adeccogroup/adecco-page-4-column/adecco-flexible-placement.jpg?h=196&iar=0&w=282&hash=F521E6085E934751611003AC092D3D0D)
![ADECCO oUTSOURCING ADECCO oUTSOURCING](/-/media/project/adecco-group/adeccogroup/adecco-page-4-column/adecco-outsourcing.jpg?h=196&iar=0&w=282&hash=A16B76DDF6AA2DAC5857ACCD5F31CE91)
The beginning
1964
Ecco is founded in Lyon, France by Philippe Foriel-Destezet.
![Adecco permanent placement Adecco permanent placement](/-/media/project/adecco-group/adeccogroup/adecco-page-4-column/adecco-permanent-placement.jpg?h=196&iar=0&w=282&hash=7FE1C31E5033D504F779164D9ABF8904)
Going global
1970s
Adia expands overseas and begins a phase of acquisitions. The company triples in size and starts operating in more than a dozen countries.