Expert Group
Expert Group is a Zurich-based boutique consulting firm serving mid-market and enterprise clients in Switzerland, Germany, and broader Europe with M&A advisory, AI-assisted B2B customer acquisition, and modular executive search and talent acquisition services.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Expert Group does
Expert Group (expert group ag) is a Zurich-headquartered, privately held consulting firm offering three integrated advisory service lines: M&A Advisory covering sell-side, buy-side, and financing mandates; Customer Acquisition Service providing systematic B2B outreach and business development support using AI-enabled tools; and Executive Search & Talent Acquisition delivered through modular packages (S/S+/M/L/XL) with a placement guarantee on larger tiers. Founded around 1999 by CEO Hans Oury, the firm operates a senior-partner-led, project-based model anchored by Hans Oury (M&A since 2000), René Schön (Partner, 30+ years B2B sales), and Bernd Luib (Managing Director of the German subsidiary, 20 years international recruitment). The firm runs from a Swiss headquarters in Kloten/Zurich (expert group ag, CHE VAT 584 843) and a German entity in Munich (expert group GmbH, HRB 183795), serving primarily mid-market and enterprise clients in Switzerland, Germany, and broader Europe. Referenceable engagements include trade sales such as Trivadis-to-Accenture and Axept-to-Swisscom, plus executive placements at Meier Tobler AG, Impact Acoustic AG, and EAO Automotive.
The firm's underlying technology stack is non-proprietary; no platform, API, SDK, or productized software offering is disclosed. AI usage is confined to third-party tools deployed within the Customer Acquisition Service to support research, outreach, and pipeline-building workflows. There are no patents, trademarks, certifications, or proprietary data assets identified. Distribution is entirely direct, with senior partners personally managing client engagement and no channel, reseller, or platform partnerships referenced. Marketing channels are limited to the firm's website (expertgroup.ch) and a content marketing blog focused on CMS-related topics.
Revenue is generated exclusively through professional services engagements. M&A mandates are billed via project retainers or success fees, executive search uses fixed-price or cost-ceiling packages with placement guarantees, and customer acquisition combines fixed and success-based fees. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. With 11-50 employees and a founder-controlled ownership structure (no external institutional investors disclosed), the firm presents as a boutique advisory practice scaled around senior partner expertise rather than headcount or technology leverage.
Expert Group firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Expert Group
- Legal name
- expert group ag
- Website
- https://expertgroup.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Expert Group is a Zurich-based boutique consulting firm serving mid-market and enterprise clients in Switzerland, Germany, and broader Europe with M&A advisory, AI-assisted B2B customer acquisition, and modular executive search and talent acquisition services.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Expert Group industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Management Consulting (Business Advisory)
- NAICS
- Management Consulting Services (54161)
- SIC
- Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side) (BPAHAOAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs) (BPAHAOAG)
Keywords
Where Expert Group is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Expert Group business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Professional Services - Executive Search: Project-based recruitment services with modular packages (S/S+/M/L/XL) billed at daily rates with fixed pricing or cost ceilings. Includes placement guarantee for executive search mandates.
- Professional Services - Customer Acquisition: Combined model with fixed and success-based fees for B2B customer acquisition services, including research, outreach, and business development support.
- M&A Advisory: Transaction-based advisory fees for sell-side, buy-side, and financing advisory engagements, typically structured as project retainers or success fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | S/S+ Package - Active Sourcing: Research and outreach for candidates with client taking over process earlier |
| Other | Multi-year contract | M/L/XL Package - Executive Search: Full 3-step process with placement guarantee for C-level and management positions |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Recruiting Support: Sequential assistance for HR departments in internal hiring processes |
| Hybrid | Multi-year contract | Customer Acquisition Service: Research, outreach, and sparring components |
| Other | Annual | Talent Acquisition Manager position (internal hiring) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | IT Security Consultant position (internal hiring) |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels2 records
Expert Group product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Expert Group sells three advisory service lines to companies: M&A Advisory (sell-side, buy-side and financing advisory for transactions ranging from startups to established SMEs), a B2B Customer Acquisition Service that combines industry expertise and AI-supported research and outreach, and Executive Search & Talent Acquisition delivered through modular packages (S/S+/M/L/XL) with a three-step process, placement guarantee and an average time-to-hire of 50 days.
Product overview
Expert Group is a consulting firm offering three distinct advisory service lines: M&A Advisory for company transactions (sell-side, buy-side, and startup/growth financing), Customer Acquisition Service for systematic B2B customer acquisition using AI tools, and Executive Search & Talent Acquisition with modular recruitment packages (S, S+, M, L, XL). The company has over 25 years of entrepreneurial experience and operates from offices in Zurich and Munich.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- M&A Advisory Holistic advisory for company sales, acquisitions, mergers and growth financing, covering strategic planning, due diligence, contract negotiation and closing; serves entrepreneurs, shareholders, strategic investors and financial sponsors from start-ups to established SMEs.
- Customer Acquisition Service Systematic B2B customer acquisition service built on research, outreach and sparring components, using state-of-the-art AI tools to identify decision-makers and build a sustainable sales pipeline for European B2B companies.
- Executive Search & Talent Acquisition Recruitment service offering modular packages from active sourcing (S/S+) through full executive search with placement guarantee (M/L/XL) and recruiting support for internal HR; uses a three-step research, outreach and qualification process to fill C-level, management and specialist positions.
Quantifiable outcome
- Time to hire of 50 days for executive search positions
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Expert Group
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Expert Group technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability1 record
Expert Group partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Expert Group competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Oaklins: Global mid-market M&A advisory with a strong partner-led model in DACH, comparable to Expert Group's partner-led GTM and mid-market deal profile.
- Clairfield International: European-headquartered mid-market M&A advisory with strong DACH presence and cross-border execution — directly comparable sell-/buy-side M&A practice and similar mid-market deal sizes.
- IMAP: Global mid-market M&A advisor with active DACH country coverage, comparable focus on sell-side advisory, SME/Mittelstand transactions and cross-border execution.
- Stanton Chase: Global executive search firm with strong DACH partner presence covering C-level and senior management placements, a direct peer for Expert Group's Executive Search & Talent Acquisition line.
- goetzpartners: German consulting and M&A advisory firm providing corporate finance, transaction and restructuring advice to mid-market German and European clients, directly comparable service-mix and DACH deal size.
Broad incumbents
- Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with significant DACH coverage competing for CIO/CFO and senior management placements similar to Expert Group's executive search packages.
- Lincoln International: Global mid-market M&A advisor with deep DACH operations offering buy-side, sell-side and financing advisory across the same mid-market segment Expert Group targets, but at much larger scale.
- Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm headquartered in Switzerland, competing for the same C-level and senior management placements in DACH with deeper international coverage.
- PageGroup: Listed recruitment group operating multiple executive-search and specialist-recruitment brands; overlaps with Expert Group's modular S–XL executive search packages across DACH mid-market.
Emerging players
- Clipperton: European tech-focused M&A advisory advising on mid-market tech transactions — overlapping with several of Expert Group's IT/Tech sell-side mandates (e.g., Trivadis → Accenture, Axept → Swisscom).
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Expert Group social profiles
Digital presenceExpert Group financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Expert Group leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
Expert Group funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Expert Group M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Expert Group
What does Expert Group do?
Expert Group sells three advisory service lines to companies: M&A Advisory (sell-side, buy-side and financing advisory for transactions ranging from startups to established SMEs), a B2B Customer Acquisition Service that combines industry expertise and AI-supported research and outreach, and Executive Search & Talent Acquisition delivered through modular packages (S/S+/M/L/XL) with a three-step process, placement guarantee and an average time-to-hire of 50 days.
Is Expert Group a public or private company?
Expert Group is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Expert Group founded?
Expert Group was founded in 1999. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Expert Group based?
Expert Group is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Expert Group make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Professional Services - Executive Search is the primary driver. The others are professional Services - Customer Acquisition and M&A Advisory.
Who are Expert Group's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Oaklins, Clairfield International, IMAP, Stanton Chase and goetzpartners. Broad incumbents are Russell Reynolds Associates, Lincoln International, Egon Zehnder and PageGroup. Clipperton is listed as an emerging player.
Does Expert Group have an API?
No public API is recorded for Expert Group.
What industry is Expert Group in?
Expert Group's product category is Management Consulting (Business Advisory). Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAOAA, M&A Advisory (Buy-Side & Sell-Side), with a secondary code of BPAHAOAG, Corporate Development & Strategic Partnerships Advisory (JVs, Alliances, Carve-outs). Its NAICS code is 54161 and its SIC code is 8742.