Posted: November 9, 2026

Sonas Technical has joined Harpstone Group, one of the largest Human Capital and Consultancy Services groups in Ireland, which has acquired a significant majority stake in the business. The group is Irish owned and controlled, and its capital partners, Duke Capital and Allied Irish Banks, supported the transaction.

Sonas Technical founders Derek Byrne and William Norton
Sonas Technical founders Derek Byrne and William Norton.

Sonas Technical keeps its name and its leadership. Derek Byrne, who founded the business with William Norton in 2012, continues to lead it day to day, and William Norton remains involved in a strategic capacity. The team, the Naas office and existing client and candidate relationships are unchanged.

The business has grown steadily over the past three years. In March 2026 it was named in the Financial Times FT 1000: Europe’s Fastest Growing Companies, a ranking compiled by the FT and Statista from independently verified revenue growth over three years. It was shortlisted for Agency of the Year by the Employment and Recruitment Federation in 2025 and again in 2026. It was recently appointed one of four Tier 1 suppliers on the HSE framework for maintenance and technical staff, and it holds CPSA approval, meeting the compliance standards required for specialist public appointments. It is an approved supplier of contract staff to a wide range of public and semi-state bodies, among them SEAI, ESB, Waterways Ireland and the OPW.

As part of the group, Sonas Technical will look to scale its three main business lines.

  • Executive Search: retained searches for senior and business critical appointments.
  • Contract and Project Staffing: contract teams for projects across the public and private sectors.
  • Permanent Recruitment: permanent hires across construction, civil engineering, advanced manufacturing and energy.

John Lacy and John Hannon, co-founders and co-chief executives of Harpstone Group, said: “Harpstone gives Irish specialist firms in the human capital sector a way to grow with an Irish-owned group behind them.”

Derek Byrne and William Norton, founders of Sonas Technical, said: “The successful development of Sonas is based on an excellent team combined with a relentless focus on meeting our clients’ needs efficiently. Harpstone’s major position in the resourcing and talent industry in Ireland will no doubt facilitate the continued growth of Sonas Technical.”