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Randstad Holding

In late 2002, when Ben Noteboom took over as CEO of Randstad, the Amsterdam temp-worker company was in trouble. Distracted by e-commerce ventures that didn't pay off, management neglected its traditional business. So it was back to basics, i.e. temporary staffing to big customers. The company's stock price has since rebounded, to around €30 from a low of 5.25, following a 10% increase in sales last year--and a 159% gain in net income.

How did Noteboom engineer a turnaround in such short order? One key: standardizing temp services across borders. For example, after building up a business supplying airport workers in France and Spain, Randstad copied the concept in other European markets. "If you want to be successful in a service industry, you have to be able to multiply what you know works," says Noteboom.

Randstad also gets close to the customer. For example, with Randstad In-house the company sets up its own office on the grounds of an industrial customer. Randstad then provides all the temporary labor on short notice, freeing managers to worry about other things than finding 20 extra people for tomorrow's night shift. Noteboom himself works overtime to make things happen.