Board Partners

What Board Partners does

Board Partners GmbH is a privately held, owner-managed professional services firm headquartered in Munich, Germany, specializing in executive search, board-level certification, and corporate-governance consulting. Founded by Guido Happe in 2013 (with the underlying Board Academy platform dating to 2009), the firm serves primarily family businesses, corporate groups, and PE/VC portfolio companies seeking board composition, succession planning, and supervisory/advisory board placements. Core offerings include Executive Search for board and senior leadership roles, the Board Academy certification program (a 6-module peer-to-peer course producing "Certified Member of the Supervisory Board and Advisory Board"), and BoardCom, an integrated personal-branding and communications agency for board members. The firm operates an international country-manager-led model with offices in Spain, Brazil, Chile, Turkey, South Africa, Poland, and Australia, supported by a Japanese Business Desk, giving it one of the broader international footprints among German-domiciled board-advisory boutiques.

The business model is fee-based professional services revenue: Executive Search mandates are charged fixed fees determined by anticipated complexity, with subsequent placements from the same candidate pool within 12 months billed at 25% of agreed annual remuneration plus VAT; Board Academy generates certification revenue from its structured program; and BoardCom delivers project-based communications engagements. Multi-year contracts with early-termination penalties (typically 50% of the next installment plus travel costs) are standard. There is no proprietary technology platform, app, or API; the firm's go-to-market is relationship-driven direct sales via country managers, reinforced by community events (Board Dialog, Board Lounge), content (Board Card magazine, Impulses video series), and thought leadership rather than digital channels. Customer segmentation is hybrid by both vertical (family businesses, corporate groups) and persona (prospective board members seeking certification and placement), with the firm's stated positioning as the only German HR consultancy and Board Academy operating internationally serving as its principal brand differentiator.

Board Partners has no disclosed institutional investors, no funding rounds, and no parent company; it is led by Managing Partners Guido Happe (founder) and Petra Happe, with country managers in each international market and approximately 16 named team members in total. Recent strategic activity is concentrated on geographic expansion (Chile and Australia added in 2025) and continued ecosystem buildout (BoardCom, Enactus sponsorship, the founder's separate Enkelfähigkeit and Target Mentoring ventures). The firm is GDPR-compliant, legally registered at the Local Court Munich, and actively operating as a going concern.

Name

Board Partners

Legal name

Board Partners GmbH

Website

https://board-partners.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Board Partners GmbH is a Munich-based, owner-managed executive search and board-advisory firm specializing in supervisory and advisory board placements, board certification (Board Academy), and personal-branding services (BoardCom) for family businesses, corporate groups, and PE/VC portfolio companies across eight international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Board Consulting Services

NAICS

Management Consulting Services (54161), Professional Organizations (81392)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Governance & Board Effectiveness Advisory (BPAHAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA), Sponsorship, Exhibitor & Partnership Management Services (THAHACAK)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Board recruitment
• Supervisory board certification
• Corporate governance consulting
• Advisory board placement

Headquarters

HQ city

Munich

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Executive Search / Personnel Consultancy: Core fee-based service for executive and board-level placements. Fees are generally fixed and determined by anticipated complexity of the search. Additional fees apply for subsequent placements from the same candidate pool within 12 months (25% of agreed annual remuneration).
2. Board Academy Certification: Certification program for supervisory and advisory board members spread over 6 modules, providing essential know-how and sharpening skills for board work. Includes triad of certification, community, and board placements.
3. BoardCom Agency Services: Integrated agency providing personal branding and communication services for board members, boards, and organizational storytelling.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Board Partners provides executive and non-executive search and selection for supervisory and advisory boards (Impact People), a structured certification programme for prospective and current board members (Impact Board Excellence / Board Academy), and integrated personal branding and communication services for boards and executives (Impact Story / BoardCom). Services are delivered through country managers in international markets and are aimed at family businesses, corporate groups, and PE/VC-backed portfolio companies seeking board professionalisation.

Product overview

Board Partners is an owner-managed platform offering organizational management, active networking, corporate effectiveness, and executive search services. The core offerings include Executive Search (personnel consultancy for executive and non-executive board positions), Board Academy (certification, community management, and board placements), and BoardCom (personal branding and communications). These are supplemented by Board Card magazine, Impulses video content, Move career services, and event formats including Board Dialog and Board Lounge.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Board Academy: Certification program for supervisory and advisory board members, including community management and board placements. Founded in 2009.
• BoardCom
• Enkelfähigkeit® ecosystem
• Target Mentoring

Products and services

• Executive Search (Impact People)
• Board Academy Certification Programme
• BoardCom (Impact Story)

Quantifiable outcome

• 14 years of establishing Board Academy as a key player for forward-looking board work
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Board AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2009Founded by Guido Happe in 2009, Board Academy offers certification program for 'Certified Member of the Supervisory Board and Advisory Board.' Today has the largest active network of board members, supervisory board members, and advisory board members. Represented in Germany, Austria, South Africa, Brazil, and Mexico. Realizes unique triad of certification, community and board placements.
• BoardComcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntegrated agency providing personal branding and communication services for board members, boards, and organizational storytelling. Board Partners is a reflecting and success-driving partner of boards, creating and guiding change, moving people and placing expertise.
• Enactus e.V.minorGTM or Marketing PartnerBoard Partners is a gold sponsor, board member and promoter of Enactus e.V., supporting social impact entrepreneurship. Also supports important projects with donations and pro bono work.
• Enkelfähigkeit® EcosystemminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Guido Happe, ecosystem supporting family businesses in succession, sustainability, and organizational development. Related venture to Board Partners' focus on family business governance.
• Target MentoringminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFounded by Guido Happe, supports managers and companies with individual mentoring formats based on professional sports methodologies.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with one of the strongest dedicated board and CEO practices, including a governance-focused Board of Directors practice. Closest large-scale comparable on the executive search and board advisory offering Board Partners provides.
• Kienbaum Consultants International: German-headquartered executive search and HR consulting firm with deep family-business and Mittelstand practice. Directly comparable in geography, client base, and core offering; co-Managing Partner Petra Happe previously held a partner role there.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with a deep board advisory and CEO succession practice. Competes for the same senior-level executive and supervisory board mandates Board Partners targets.
• Amrop: Global executive search partnership with strong coverage in emerging markets and family-business segments, particularly through its European and Latin American member firms. Turkey Country Manager Özgür Tuncer was previously Principal Consultant at Amrop Turkey.
• Spencer Stuart: Long-established executive search firm historically identified with the board practice (the firm traces its origins to a board search in 1956). Direct competitor for supervisory and advisory board placements across global markets.
• Odgers Berndtson: International executive search firm with a notable board practice and significant UK/European footprint. Competes directly for senior board and C-suite placements in DACH and broader international markets.
• Boyden: Global executive search firm operating through a partner-led model with strong emerging-market and family-business coverage. Comparable to Board Partners' relationship-driven, partner-led delivery model across multiple geographies.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with a strong board and CEO practice and dedicated governance expertise. Direct competitor for senior supervisory and advisory board mandates internationally.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Largest pure-play executive search and organizational consulting firm globally, with extensive Board & CEO services. Country Manager Rogerio Rego worked at Korn Ferry in Brazil — the firm represents both a competitor and a talent source for Board Partners.

Emerging players

• INSEAD Corporate Governance Centre: Leading business school's corporate governance research and director education initiative offering board-level certification and networking programs. Most directly comparable on the certification-plus-community dimension of the Board Academy triad.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/board-partners-gmbh

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles14 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 Board Partners