What Rhizome does

Rhizome (legally RHizome SARL) is a Brittany-based boutique executive recruitment and HR consulting firm founded in 2010, operating from headquarters in Rennes (8 rue de l'Arsenal, 35000 Rennes) and a second office in Quimper. The firm is led by two co-founding managing partners — Marie-Anne Ferrand-Le Bris (ex-HR Director with 13 years in metallurgy plus 15 years of HR consulting, Sciences Po Paris and CIFFOP educated) and Nathalie Hubert (12 years in agrifood commercial roles, AUDENCIA graduate, certified through Transformance Pro coaching) — supported by a network of independent sector-specialized researchers rather than a large internal staff.

The company's offering is structured around two core service lines: executive recruitment (approximately 75% of revenue) covering retained search, web sourcing, and direct approach for CODIR-level positions (DRH, DAF, Commercial Director, Technical Director) targeting growth-phase Breton SMEs and mid-market groups; and an accompanying assessment and coaching portfolio (~25% of revenue) including individual executive coaching (6-10 sessions of 2 hours), 360° evaluations via PERFORMANSE, MBTI personality assessments (OPP-certified), the MISIVIAS serious game, and à la carte career-support workshops priced at €250 TTC per session. Recruitment methodology combines online databases, professional networks, and direct targeted headhunting, with a published 4-6 week candidate presentation timeline and a 100% response rate to candidates.

Rhizome operates a partner-led direct sales model with no resellers, marketplaces, or app products, and concentrates exclusively on companies with decision-making centers in Brittany. The firm is the first recruitment partner of Marca Bretagne since 2011, a member of Réseau Entreprendre Bretagne, and has run an environmental partnership with ECOTREE since 2020 (one tree planted per person recruited). With no disclosed funding, a modest €8,000 social capital, and an asset-light structure, the firm functions as a high-touch regional specialist rather than a scalable recruitment platform, and its value proposition is grounded in regional ecosystem integration and certified assessment methodology rather than technology differentiation.

Name

Rhizome

Legal name

RHizome SARL

Website

https://rhizome-recrutement.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Rhizome is a Brittany-based boutique executive recruitment and HR consulting firm founded in 2010, serving Breton SMEs, mid-market groups, and large enterprises with retained search, assessment, and coaching services for CODIR-level positions, led by two co-founding partners from offices in Rennes and Quimper.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search and Recruitment Services

NAICS

Human Resources Consulting Services (541612), Executive Search Services (561312)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive RPO (Leadership Hiring Programs) (BPACABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Hybrid / Selective RPO (Partial Outsourcing) (BPACABAC)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Recruitment agency
• HR assessment services
• Individual executive coaching
• Outplacement services

Headquarters

HQ city

Rennes

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 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 Recruitment Services: Core business generating approximately 75% of total revenue. Includes retained search (chasse de têtes), web sourcing, and direct approach recruitment for executive and director-level positions. Typically handles full recruitment process or specific stages like evaluation only.
2. Assessment and Evaluation Services: Individual and collective assessment using psychometric tools, cognitive tests, and structured interviews. Offered as standalone service for clients' internal hiring or mobility operations.
3. Coaching Services: Individual coaching for executives and managers, addressing specific professional challenges such as new role transitions, strategic projects, career decisions, management improvement, and conflict resolution. 6-10 sessions of 2 hours each.
4. Career Support Workshops: À la carte professional development workshops covering career installation in Brittany, job search optimization, personal branding, and CV presentation. One theme equals one 1H30 session.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Rhizome is a Brittany-based executive search and HR consulting firm that recruits and supports directors and CODIR-level executives for Breton companies. It combines retained executive search, psychometric and cognitive assessment (MBTI, PERFORMANSE PERF ECHO, TwoB-R, 360° feedback, MISIVIAS serious game), individual coaching, outplacement, and career support workshops delivered through two regional offices in Rennes and Quimper.

Product overview

Rhizome is a Brittany-based executive recruitment and HR consulting firm offering a unified service portfolio centered on two core offerings: recruitment (sourcing and evaluating management candidates through direct approach and headhunting) and assessment/coaching services (individual and collective coaching, outplacement, managerial assessments, and 360° evaluations). The company differentiates through innovative tools including MBTI personality assessments, PERFORMANSE evaluation instruments (personality questionnaires, cognitive potential tests, 360° feedback), and MISIVIAS serious games for managerial development programs. The service integrates evaluation tools within coaching engagements to measure potential and support professional development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Recrutement (Executive Recruitment Services) Full-process executive recruitment service including needs definition, sourcing via web networks and direct approach/headhunting, candidate evaluation, presentation, and integration follow-up. Targeted at Breton SMEs and mid-market companies recruiting director-level (CODIR) talent such as DRH, DAF, Directeur Commercial, and Directeur Technique. Approximately 50 missions per year, limited parallel engagements to maintain a 4–6 week candidate presentation timeline.
• Accompagner (Assessment, Coaching and Outplacement Services) Standalone assessment, coaching, and outplacement service for clients' internal hiring, mobility, and career transition needs. Combines individual and collective formats using psychometric tools (MBTI, PERF ECHO), cognitive testing (TwoB-R), 360° questionnaires, and the MISIVIAS serious game for managerial assessment and development. Sold per program or per session to Breton enterprises and individual executives.
• Coaching individuel (Individual Executive Coaching) One-on-one professional coaching for executives and senior managers facing specific career challenges (new role assimilation, strategic projects, leadership style, communication, conflict resolution). Delivered in 6–10 face-to-face sessions of 2 hours each by managing partners trained in the Transformance Pro methodology (Vincent Lenhardt) and certified in MBTI coaching. Sold as standalone coaching programs or as part of outplacement engagements.
• Ateliers « Bienvenue en Bretagne » et ateliers à la carte (Career Support Workshops) À la carte professional development workshops covering career installation in Brittany, job search optimisation, personal branding, and CV presentation. Each theme is delivered as a single 1H30 session at 250€ TTC, run by one of the managing partners. Designed for executives and managers facing career transitions or relocation.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50 recruitment missions completed annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Marca BretagneflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2011First recruitment partner of Marca Bretagne since 2011. Promotes Brittany as a destination for executive talent and represents the region to candidates.
• PERFORMANSEcoreTechnology or IntegrationCertified partnership for assessment tools including PERF ECHO personality questionnaire and TwoB-R cognitive potential test. Tools used for candidate evaluation and executive development programs.
• MBTI (OPP Assessment)coreTechnology or IntegrationCertified partnership for Myers-Briggs Type Indicator personality assessment used in coaching and team development.
• ECOTREEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental partnership since 2020 celebrating RHIZOME's 10th anniversary. Planted 1 hectare of forest in Brittany (500 trees) and commits to planting one tree for each person recruited.
• Réseau Entreprendre BretagnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerActive member of entrepreneur support network providing referrals and supporting business creation and takeover in Brittany.
• Transformance Pro / Vincent LenhardtcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCoaching certification school for Nathalie Hubert; training in Transformanse Pro methodology and co-development approach.
• Independent Research Partners (Chargés de recherche)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork of independent researchers specialized by profession and sector supporting headhunting assignments through identification and qualification services.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights2 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm combining executive search, leadership development, and assessment. Comparable to Rhizome on the executive search and assessment dimensions, but as a full-spectrum incumbent rather than a regional boutique.
• Robert Half: Specialized recruitment firm focused on finance, accounting, technology, and office roles. Comparable to Rhizome in serving mid-market companies for professional and management-level hires, with similar pricing and process structures but broader geographic reach.
• Randstad: One of the largest global recruitment and HR services groups, with a strong French footprint. Comparable to Rhizome as it serves French enterprises with recruitment and talent advisory, but at vastly greater scale across both permanent and temporary placements.
• Michael Page: One of the world's largest dedicated recruitment firms, with deep French operations and a heavy focus on mid-to-senior management placement. Directly comparable to Rhizome on the executive/director-level search mandate, but with a national brand and broader reach.
• ManpowerGroup: Global workforce solutions and recruitment firm with a substantial French subsidiary. Comparable to Rhizome in providing professional recruitment services to French enterprises, but with a much broader staffing and RPO portfolio.
• Hays: Global recruitment firm with a strong presence in France across multiple disciplines. Comparable to Rhizome because it competes for the same SME and mid-market executive search mandates in Brittany, but at a significantly larger scale and with a broader service portfolio.

Regional players

• Federmann Recruitment Solutions: Recruitment and executive search firm with continental European presence. Comparable to Rhizome in the SME and mid-market executive search segment, with overlapping methodology around assessment-led candidate evaluation.

Direct peers

• Alexander Mann Solutions: Global talent acquisition and RPO provider serving large enterprises. Comparable to Rhizome on the recruitment process outsourcing and assessment services, but with a technology platform and scale that Rhizome lacks.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a French practice. Comparable to Rhizome in the executive search core, but it also layers board advisory, leadership assessment, and coaching, which mirrors Rhizome's assessment/coaching extension.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm specializing in board-level and senior leadership recruitment. Directly comparable to Rhizome's executive RPO focus, but operating at the top of the market with a global footprint and significantly higher price points per mandate.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/rh_izome
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rhizome

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Rhizome