Founder Pietro Novelli launches Sparq to reshape talent services amid AI shift

Pietro Novelli, who spent ten years in global headhunting and opened offices in Milan and Madrid, spun off from his former group to launch Sparq in December 2025. The new firm, staffed by roughly forty people, provides specialist recruitment and contractor-engagement services using an Anglo-Saxon model. Novelli explains that AI is prompting top management to adopt cost-saving technologies, but true impact comes from re-designing work processes around skill sets rather than titles.

He notes that AI-enhanced CVs appear uniformly polished, increasing the value of deep reference checks. Sparq’s strategy includes guiding HR departments through AI integration, competency mapping, and compliance with emerging pay-transparency rules, while also addressing Italy’s restrictive tax framework for freelancers.