Labbé & Cie

What Labbé & Cie does

Labbé & Cie is a German executive search boutique headquartered in Nuremberg (Nürnberg-Erlenstegen), founded in 2002 by Prof. Dr. Marcus Labbé and Dr. Thomas Kienle, who continue to serve as managing partners (geschäftsführende Gesellschafter). The firm specializes in retained search for C-level executives, supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat) and advisory board (Beirat) positions, and other key leadership roles. Its core services — Top Executive Search, Supervisory and Advisory Board Services, and Leadership Advisory — are delivered exclusively after formal engagement mandates and emphasize absolute discretion, values-based evaluation, and the proprietary 'Return on Character' methodology that assesses both competence and character alignment.

The firm operates across three formally defined industry verticals: Hightech (plant and special machinery, electronics, microelectronics, automotive supply), Services (municipal clinics, utilities, telecommunications, IT services, construction), and Consumer Goods (food, e-commerce, digital business, sports, luxury goods, art trade). Client segments include corporate leaders, family business owners seeking succession planning, and supervisory board committees. Geographic focus is the DACH region, with the company accepting English-language inquiries for international mandates.

Labbé & Cie is organized as a GmbH (private limited company) registered at Amtsgericht Nürnberg (HRB 26246), with no evidence of external investment, parent company, or subsidiary structure. Revenue is project-based professional services income tied to placement outcomes under retained-search fee arrangements; pricing is not publicly disclosed. Distribution is exclusively direct B2B via personal networks and referrals, supported by thought-leadership publishing in leading German business media (Süddeutsche Zeitung, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Handelsblatt, Bayerische Staatszeitung). Headcount is in the 11-50 range, consistent with a small, founder-led premium boutique.

Name

Labbé & Cie

Legal name

LABBÉ & CIE. GmbH

Website

https://labbe-cie.eu

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Labbé & Cie is a German executive search boutique based in Nuremberg that places C-level executives, supervisory board members, and key leaders for family businesses, listed companies, and public institutions across Hightech, services, and consumer goods verticals in the DACH region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nuremberg

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Executive Search / Headhunting Services: Project-based executive search mandates for C-Level and key leadership positions. Services include Top Executive Search, Aufsichtsrat/Beirat services, and Leadership Advisory.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Labbé & Cie. is a German executive search boutique that fills top management, first and second-line management positions on behalf of corporate leaders, family entrepreneurs, and supervisory boards. The firm delivers retained executive search mandates for C-level, supervisory board (Aufsichtsrat), and advisory board (Beirat) placements, complemented by Leadership Advisory that evaluates and develops value-oriented leadership culture. Services are delivered exclusively after formal engagement mandates and span three industry verticals: Hightech, Services, and Consumer Goods.

Product overview

Labbé & Cie is an executive search and headhunting consulting boutique that operates as a single unified service offering rather than a platform-based architecture. The core offering centers on Top Executive Search (Besetzung von Spitzen- und Schlüsselpositionen) for placing top management and key leadership positions. This core service is complemented by Aufsichts- und Beiratsservices for supervisory and advisory board placements, and Leadership Advisory for evaluating and developing value-oriented leadership culture. The company specializes in three industry verticals: Hightech (covering plant/special machinery, electronics, microelectronics, automotive), Dienstleistungen (services including municipal clinics, utilities, telecommunications, IT, construction), and Konsumgüter (consumer goods including food, e-commerce, luxury goods, sports). All services are delivered exclusively on a retained search basis after formal engagement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Top Executive Search Executive search service for placing top management and key leadership positions on behalf of clients, including C-level and senior management roles. Delivered exclusively on a retained search basis after formal engagement.
• Aufsichts- und Beiratsservices (Supervisory and Advisory Board Services) Placement services for C-level positions as well as supervisory (Aufsichtsrat) and advisory board (Beirat) roles, commissioned by supervisory board chairs and governing bodies.
• Leadership Advisory Evaluation and development of value-oriented leadership culture and quality on behalf of decision-makers and owners.
• Branchenexpertise Hightech (High-Tech Industry Practice) Executive search services with specialized expertise in high-tech industries including plant and special machinery manufacturing, electronics, microelectronics, and automotive supply.
• Branchenexpertise Dienstleistungen (Services Sector Practice) Executive search services specialized in service industries including municipal clinics, utilities, telecommunications, IT services, and construction.
• Branchenexpertise Konsumgüter (Consumer Goods Practice) Executive search services specialized in consumer goods sectors including food and consumer goods, e-commerce, digital business, sports, luxury goods, and art trade.

Quantifiable outcome

• Successfully placed candidates in C-Level and supervisory board positions for listed companies, family businesses, and public institutions

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search boutique with strong presence in DACH, specializing in board-level and C-suite placements. Directly comparable to Labbé & Cie. in premium-boutique positioning, character/values-driven assessment approach, and family-business mandate focus in the German Mittelstand.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a strong German office and significant Aufsichtsrat/Beirat mandate activity. Directly comparable on C-level and supervisory board placement services and on premium-client segments (family businesses, listed companies, public institutions).
• Stanton Chase: International executive search partnership with presence in DACH, focused on C-level and board placements. Directly comparable on boutique retained-search model and on serving family-owned, listed, and public-sector clients.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with deep German operations serving listed companies, family-owned enterprises, and public-sector clients. Directly comparable on retained search for C-level and supervisory board mandates in DACH.
• Odgers Berndtson: Mid-sized global executive search firm with strong German practice focused on C-suite and board mandates. Comparable to Labbé in boutique-style service delivery and emphasis on family businesses and listed-company governance work.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with established DACH practice and one of the strongest reputations in board and CEO placement. Comparable to Labbé in boutique-style governance work, family-business engagement, and premium positioning in the German market.
• SIGNIUM International: Global executive search partnership with active DACH member firms serving mid-market and large enterprises. Comparable to Labbé in boutique retained-search structure and in emphasis on senior leadership and board mandates for family and listed companies.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Largest global executive search and organizational consulting firm, with comprehensive DACH coverage and an integrated advisory portfolio. Overlaps with Labbé on senior-level placements but offers a much broader suite of services (assessment, RPO, consulting).

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses1 record

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

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 Labbé & Cie