HAGER Executive Consulting

What HAGER Executive Consulting does

HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH is a Frankfurt-based executive search and leadership advisory firm founded in 1996 by Ralf Hager and Oliver Badura, currently led by CEO Martin Krill and COO Badura. The firm operates a modular service portfolio anchored by core Executive Search — placing C-level and senior management executives with a placement rate exceeding 90% and nearly 6,000 successful placements over 30 years — and supplemented by Management Assessment, Career Coaching, Board Services, HAGER Public Advisors, a China Desk, and the HAGER Academy training division. Service delivery is structured around two proprietary methodologies: the Employment Lifecycle Solutions (ELS) framework introduced in 2011 and the 4iProcess methodology launched in 2016. In 2023 the firm introduced HAGER-GPT, an internal generative AI tool used by consultants to accelerate candidate research and matching. The company operates from three German offices (Frankfurt headquarters, Munich, and Bad Vilbel), serves 15+ industry verticals spanning Aerospace & Defense, Automotive & Mobility, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrial, and Digital & Technology among others, and extends its international reach through a partnership with HORTON International — a global network of 300+ consultants across 45+ offices in 35+ countries — entered in 2015. The firm expanded its capability surface in 2022 through the acquisition of CONVENIO, a digitalization consulting boutique.

The business model is professional-services retainer-based: clients — primarily large enterprises, multinational corporations, and startups in the DACH region — engage HAGER on customized, project-based search mandates with pricing determined by scope, seniority, and complexity. The go-to-market is consultative and relationship-driven, supported by direct enterprise field sales, exclusive networking events such as the 'Feuer im Schloss' annual gathering and the HaMoTo motorcycle tour, multi-channel content marketing (LinkedIn, XING, YouTube, blog), and consistent recognition by WirtschaftsWoche, FOCUS Business, and Handelsblatt as a top German personnel consultancy. Revenue also derives from ancillary fee-for-service lines including assessment, coaching, training programs through HAGER Academy, and the CONVENIO digitalization practice. HAGER is privately held by its founders and management, has not raised external funding, and maintains an approximate headcount of 130 employees as of 2024–2025.

Name

HAGER Executive Consulting

Legal name

HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH

Website

https://hager-consulting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

HAGER Executive Consulting is a Frankfurt-based executive search and leadership advisory firm founded in 1996, placing C-level and senior management executives across 15+ industry verticals in the DACH region, with international reach through the HORTON International network of 45+ offices in 35+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK), Executive & Leadership Direct Hire (BPACAFAB)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Leadership recruitment
• Board advisory services
• Management assessment
• Executive career coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: Core executive search service placing C-level and senior management executives in client organizations. Operates on retainer-based fees with high placement success rates.
2. Management Assessment: Assessment services for evaluating leadership potential and making better hiring decisions for management positions.
3. HAGER Academy: Training and development programs for executives, providing advanced training at executive level through Master Class programmes.
4. Career Coaching: Individual career coaching for executives delivered in confidential, strategic settings.
5. Board Services: Specialized services for placing supervisory board members and advisory board positions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels11 records

Core offering

HAGER Executive Consulting is an executive search firm that identifies, assesses, and places senior executives, board members, and key management personnel for client organizations. Its core offering is retainer-based executive search, supplemented by management assessment, board services, career coaching, and executive training delivered through HAGER Academy, with international reach via the HORTON International network.

Product overview

HAGER Executive Consulting operates as an executive search and leadership advisory firm offering a modular service portfolio built around its core Executive Search capability. The primary offering is supplemented by Management Assessment, Career Coaching, Board Services, HAGER Public Advisors, and China Desk modules. The company also provides training through the HAGER Academy and has integrated AI capabilities via HAGER AI (including HAGER-GPT). Proprietary methodologies include the 4iProcess® and Employment Lifecycle Solutions (ELS)® frameworks. Services span multiple industry verticals including Aerospace & Defense, Automotive, Healthcare, Financial Services, Digital & Technology, and Energy. The firm is headquartered in Frankfurt with international reach through Horton International partnership.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• HAGER Academy: Training division offering MASTER CLASS PROGRAMMES for advanced and further training at executive level.
• HAGER Public Advisors
• HAGER AI
• Employment Lifecycle Solutions (ELS)
• 4iProcess
• China Desk

Products and services

• Executive Search

Quantifiable outcome

• Placement rate exceeding 90%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments10 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

AI capability2 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Directors AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 December 2023Strategic cooperation between HAGER Academy and Directors Academy expands executive search offering with high-quality online training courses specifically tailored for C-level executives and board members. Directors Academy provides governance knowledge through 24/7 video content, 4 modules for different target groups, and quarterly briefings.
• HORTON InternationalcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Since 2015, HAGER has been a partner of HORTON International - an international market leader in executive search. HORTON has 300+ consultants and 500+ staff, 45+ offices in 35+ countries across Americas, EMEA, and Asia-Pacific. HAGER benefits from global reach while maintaining local market expertise in DACH region.
• gotoitcareerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with career network specializing in IT careers for lateral entrants. Collaboration provides holistic recruiting solutions including interim management and IT lateral entry.
• HAGER AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternal training division offering Master Class programmes for advanced executive-level training and development. Partners with Directors Academy for supervisory board qualification.
• ADAN Netzwerk (Arbeitskreis Diversity in der Arbeitswelt)minorOthersDiversity partnership through ADAN Partner Network promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
• Mission FemaleminorOthersPartnership with Mission Female network supporting women in leadership positions.
• FemaleOneZerominorOthersNetwork partnership supporting female executives and leaders.
• Impact of DiversityminorOthersPartnership focused on diversity impact and inclusion initiatives.
• bitkomminorOthersAssociate member of Germany's leading digital association for IT, telecommunications and new media.
• PropTech Powerhouse e.V.minorOthersMembership providing networking for construction and property industry players.
• automotive BerlinBrandenburg e.V.minorOthersAssociation membership for automotive supply industry in Berlin-Brandenburg capital region.
• accadis Hochschule Bad HomburgminorOthersAcademic partnership since 2012 for dual study programmes and practical training. Located near Frankfurt headquarters.
• FOM Hochschule für Oekonomie und ManagementminorOthersPartnership since 2017 in business informatics with FOM university.
• iu International UniversityminorOthersAcademic partnership for dual study programmes.
• IHK Frankfurt (Industrie- und Handelskammer)minorOthersRecognized as IHK training company providing apprenticeship programmes.
• Hochschule für angewandtes Management (HAM)minorOthersPartnership since 2020 with HAM in Ismaning near Munich for dual study programmes in business administration.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Page Executive: Michael Page's executive search arm operating globally with strong European footprint. Comparable in C-level and senior executive placements, particularly in mid-market and enterprise segments in DACH.
• Alexander Hughes: International executive search firm with established European and emerging market presence. Comparable to HAGER in board-level and senior executive search, with similar mid-sized boutique positioning.
• Odgers Berndtson: Mid-sized global executive search firm with strong presence in DACH and Europe. Directly comparable to HAGER in executive search across multiple sectors and mid-cap enterprise client base.

Broad incumbents

• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong European roots. Comparable to HAGER in board-level and senior executive search, particularly in DACH where Egon Zehnder is a major competitor.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm combining executive search, assessment, and talent development. Highly comparable to HAGER's full-stack approach spanning search, assessment (Management Assessment), and training (HAGER Academy).
• Spencer Stuart: One of the world's largest executive search firms with deep C-suite and board practice globally. Directly comparable to HAGER's core executive search and board services offering, though operating at much larger international scale.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Publicly listed global executive search and leadership consulting firm. Comparable in core executive search and leadership advisory, including the assessment and board practices that overlap with HAGER's portfolio.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on senior leadership across multiple sectors. Comparable to HAGER in C-suite and board search, with overlapping sector coverage in financial services, healthcare, and industrial markets.

Regional players

• Robert Half Germany: Global staffing and consulting firm with German operations spanning executive search and professional placement. Comparable in the executive search segment but broader in staffing services.
• Hays Germany: UK-listed recruitment group with substantial German executive and professional search operations. Comparable in the broader talent acquisition value chain, though broader than pure executive search.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HagerUBGmbH
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCL7ge14cRVHn4NfRWIbaCrA
• Facebookfacebook.com/hagerub
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/68771
• Instagraminstagram.com/hager_executive_consulting

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about HAGER Executive Consulting