hays plc said thursday that pretax profit fell in the first half of fiscal 2023 on higher costs as net fees hit a record high despite the challenging backdrop and that chief executive officer alistair cox will step down the uk staffing company reported a pretax profit for the six months ended dec 31 of 940 million pounds 1132 million compared with gbp977 million reported for the same period a year earlier turnover came in at gbp384 billion from gbp307 billion the company said net fees rose to gbp6519 million from gbp5653 million a 12 increase in a likeforlike basis the increase was driven by actions to increase fee margins and was supported by positive effects of general wage inflation globally which offset volume declines it added given the economic backdrop our new year return to work has been encouraging overall temporary volumes are building in line with normal trends permanent markets are tougher although reassuringly new year activity is consistent with secondquarter levels the company said the board declared an interim dividend 095 pence a share flat on a year earlier in a separate statement the company said that mr cox will step down from the role once the group finds a suitable successor and a handover has taken place