division one

Name

division one

Legal name

division one GmbH

Website

https://division-one.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Interim Management Consulting

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Executive & Leadership Direct Hire (BPACAFAB), Executive Outplacement (C-Suite & Senior Leaders) (BPACAOAC)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Interim management placement
• Leadership advisory consulting
• Board member recruitment
• Executive headhunting

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Executive Search: Project-based retained search mandates for permanent placement of executives at C-suite, board, and senior management levels. Revenue is earned as a success fee upon completed placement, typically a percentage of the placed executive's annual compensation.
2. Interim Management: Placement of temporary senior managers and executives for defined project periods. Interim managers are contracted directly with client companies; division one earns fees for candidate sourcing, screening, and ongoing account management.
3. Leadership Advisory: Advisory and consulting engagements including management diagnostics, executive coaching, outplacement services, and HR consulting for leadership development and organizational transformation.
4. Board Member Placement: Specialized search and advisory services for supervisory board, advisory board, and non-executive director positions.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

division one is a top-level personnel consultancy that places C-suite executives, board members, and senior managers for large corporations and German Mittelstand companies. The firm delivers retained executive search mandates, interim management placements, leadership advisory engagements, and supervisory/advisory board member recruitment. Service delivery is anchored in the proprietary Deep5S search methodology and supported by the ENEX international partner network.

Product overview

division one is a top-level executive search and interim management consulting firm offering a unified portfolio of four core services: Executive Search for permanent leadership placements, Interim Management for temporary executive solutions, Leadership Advisory for coaching and development, and Board Members placement for governance roles. The company operates across multiple industry specializations including Technology, Private Equity, Restructuring, Automotive, Healthcare, Energy, Industrial, Consumer Markets, Financial Services, Professional Services, and Public Sector. The Deep5S process underlies all service delivery, combining strategic market analysis, targeted candidate approach, in-depth suitability testing, efficient shortlist presentation, and long-term integration strategies.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Retained search service for identifying and placing top-level management candidates in leadership positions, specializing in board members, CEOs, CFOs, and other C-suite executives at large corporations and German Mittelstand companies.
• Interim Management Provision of highly qualified temporary executives and managers to bridge leadership gaps during transitions, restructuring, transformation, post-merger integration, or other critical business phases. Candidates are contracted directly with client companies; division one earns fees for sourcing, screening, and ongoing account management.
• Leadership Advisory Advisory services including leadership diagnostics, executive coaching, management audits, and outplacement support for organizational development and leadership transitions.
• Board Members Identification and placement of qualified candidates for supervisory boards, advisory boards, and non-executive director positions in companies, supporting governance strengthening.
• Technology Sector Services Specialized executive search and interim management services for the technology sector, placing digital leaders including CIOs, CDOs, CTOs, and IT strategists in both traditional industries and technology companies.
• Private Equity Services Executive search, interim management, and board advisory services tailored for private equity firms and their portfolio companies, including value creation and transformation support across the investment cycle.
• Restructuring Services Specialized placement of Chief Restructuring Officers (CROs), CEOs, COOs, CTOs, and CFOs for companies undergoing transformation, turnaround, or financial restructuring.

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• PIËCH Automotive AGminorOthers · 11 July 2024Patrick Marinoff (Head of Marketing, PR & Sales at PIËCH Automotive AG and Interim Manager) served as keynote speaker at DDIM.regional Stuttgart 2024 event hosted by division one.
• ENEX (Global Executive Search Organisation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerENEX is an international partnership of executive search firms with 50 partner offices in 40 countries (some sources cite 70 offices in 50 countries). Founded 41 years ago, ENEX enables division one to serve international clients and fill cross-border mandates. CEO Björn Knothe serves as President of ENEX, reflecting division one's leadership position within the network. The partnership provides access to local market expertise and candidate networks across major economies.
• DDIM (Dachgesellschaft Deutsches Interim Management)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDDIM is Germany's leading industry association for interim management. division one is an associate partner of DDIM. The partnership provides industry advocacy, thought leadership platforms (DDIM.regional events, DDIM Congress), and professional standards development. division one actively participates in DDIM regional events and contributes to industry events.
• Steinbeis Business SchoolminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAwarded 'Provider of the Year 2025' by Steinbeis Business School. Partnership involves industry recognition and potentially educational collaboration.
• Business Club StuttgartminorGTM or Marketing PartnerNetworking partnership with Business Club Stuttgart. Provides access to executive networking events and business community connections.
• IfUS Institute (Institut für Unternehmensstrategie)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership with IfUS Institute at Pforzheim University. Jointly conducted the study 'Competence management in the age of digitalisation - requirements and fields of action for top management'. division one powered the IfUS Round Table 2024 event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Boyden: Global executive search firm with a partner-led model comparable to division one's boutique structure. Direct peer on executive search, interim management, and board advisory mandates.
• Odgers Berndtson: International executive search firm with strong European presence and similar C-suite/board search focus. Closely comparable business model and client types, including Mittelstand and large corporates.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm focused on senior leadership and board appointments. Directly comparable service portfolio targeting similar C-suite and board mandates.

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with strong board and CEO practice. Comparable on the C-suite/board search axis, serving similar large-corporate and Mittelstand clients across Europe.
• Korn Ferry: Large publicly-traded organizational consulting firm with executive search, talent management, and RPO. Overlaps with division one on executive search and leadership advisory but operates at significantly greater scale.
• PageGroup: Global publicly-listed recruitment group spanning executive search (Page Executive), interim, and broader staffing. Overlaps with division one on executive search and interim management but serves a wider salary band and geography.
• Egon Zehnder: One of the world's largest privately-held executive search firms with integrated leadership advisory. Comparable in C-suite and board search focus and in being founder-led/private, though with substantially greater scale.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with deep C-suite and board practice. Closely comparable in core service offering but materially larger and broader in geographic reach than division one.

Regional players

• HKP Group: German executive search consultancy headquartered in Frankfurt with strong DACH footprint. Comparable boutique positioning serving large corporates and Mittelstand in the German market.
• Rochus Mummert: German executive search firm focused on C-level and board placements across DACH. Comparable on boutique scale, German Mittelstand focus, and board/C-suite mandate profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/D1gamingesports

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

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 division one