Dr. Scharff + Eiberger

What Dr. Scharff + Eiberger does

Dr. Scharff + Eiberger, operating under the trade name DIE STELLENBESETZER, is a German boutique executive search and specialist recruitment firm headquartered in Stuttgart, founded in 1997 by Dr. Reinhard Scharff and Michael Eiberger and consolidated under its current GmbH & Co. KG structure in 2005. The firm operates with a partner-led boutique model, delivering executive search and specialist recruitment services primarily to enterprise and mid-market clients across German-speaking markets, with an industry concentration in automotive, industrial manufacturing, life sciences, and financial services.

The firm's core offering is relationship-driven executive search, augmented by a Shared Services Plattform that provides subscription-style process outsourcing as an add-on module to the traditional placement-fee business. There is no proprietary technology platform described; the firm relies on established search tools, partner networks (notably United Headhunters), and the deep personal networks of its founding partners and consultants.

Revenue is generated primarily through placement fees tied to individual executive mandates, with a smaller recurring layer from the Shared Services offering. The firm reports an 80% repeat business rate and a client roster including Zeiss, Rolls-Royce, B. Braun, MANN+HUMMEL, MTU Aero Engines, Thyssen, Magna, Voith, Valeo, Webasto, Oechsler, Schuler, Festool, Mercer Deutschland, and various German banks, alongside regional Medical Practices and MVZs. Headcount is reported in the 11–50 employee range, consistent with a small specialized boutique.

Name

Dr. Scharff + Eiberger

Legal name

DIE STELLENBESETZER GmbH & Co. KG

Website

https://die-stellenbesetzer.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1997

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Dr. Scharff + Eiberger (DIE STELLENBESETZER) is a Stuttgart-based boutique executive search and specialist recruitment firm serving enterprise clients across automotive, manufacturing, life sciences, and financial services in German-speaking markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search and Personnel Consulting

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive & Leadership Direct Hire (BPACAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA), Professional & Technical Direct Hire (IT, Engineering, Finance, Healthcare) (BPACAFAC)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Direct candidate placement
• Headhunting recruitment
• Specialist staffing Germany
• Recruitment process outsourcing

Headquarters

HQ city

Stuttgart

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Executive Search & Placement Fees: The firm charges fees for successfully placing candidates in permanent positions. As a recruitment consultancy operating since 1997, they earn revenue through placement fees, likely calculated as a percentage of the placed candidate's annual compensation. The company also offers Shared Services covering administrative recruiting tasks on a service basis.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

DIE STELLENBESETZER is a German executive search and personnel consulting firm that places specialists, managers, and C-level executives (CEOs, CFOs, managing directors) into permanent roles across automotive, manufacturing, engineering, IT, healthcare, and financial services sectors using a proprietary direct-approach workflow covering job analysis, job posting formulation, candidate acquisition via headhunting and social networking, candidate presentation, and contract signing. The firm supplements its core executive search with a Shared Services Platform through which clients can outsource full administrative recruitment tasks including job posting design and distribution, applicant intake and tracking, digital candidate file management, candidate communication, interview coordination, and compliance monitoring under the General Equal Treatment Act (AGG) and the EU General Data Protection Regulation (DSG-VO).

Product overview

DIE STELLENBESETZER operates as a unified staffing service combining two core offerings: the main recruitment and executive search service (DIE STELLENBESETZER - Recruitment Services) and the Shared Services Plattform module. The primary service provides direct placement of technical, engineering, IT, sales, and commercial professionals through Headhunting and nationwide consulting networks. The Shared Services Plattform functions as a cost-effective add-on enabling clients to outsource administrative recruitment processes including job posting, applicant management, and compliance coordination. The two offerings work together to serve clients seeking both candidate sourcing and process outsourcing from a single provider.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DIE STELLENBESETZER Executive Search and Recruitment Services Full-cycle executive search and direct placement of specialists, managers, and C-level executives (CEOs, CFOs, managing directors) into permanent roles across technical, engineering, IT, sales, and commercial functions. Service covers job analysis, job posting formulation, candidate acquisition via Headhunting (Direktansprache) and social networking, candidate presentation, and contract signing, delivered to enterprise and mid-market German clients through the firm's Stuttgart-based direct-approach team and a nationwide consulting network.
• Shared Services Plattform Outsourced recruitment process management offering covering job posting design and distribution, applicant intake and tracking, digital candidate file management, candidate communication, interview coordination, professional rejections, and AGG/EU-DSGVO compliance monitoring. Delivered via a multi-tenant software platform with real-time applicant status visibility, enabling clients to outsource the entire administrative recruitment workflow to DIE STELLENBESETZER.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% placement success rate across all assigned positions
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• United HeadhunterscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUnited Headhunters is a nationwide network of leading German recruitment consultancies. Die Stellenbesetzer is a member of this alliance, which enables shared best practices, mutual candidate identification and outreach, and synergy gains across member firms. The network allows the firm to serve clients seeking placements locally, throughout Germany, and internationally.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• PageGroup (Michael Page): Global recruitment firm with extensive German footprint placing mid-to-senior specialists and managers across industrial, technical, and commercial functions — adjacent competitor for specialist mandates.
• Robert Half: Global staffing and recruitment firm placing finance, accounting, technology, and administrative professionals — broader incumbent with overlapping placement services for German mid-market and enterprise clients.
• Hays: Global recruitment firm with significant German operations placing professionals across technical, engineering, IT, and commercial functions — broader incumbent serving similar Mittelstand customers.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm whose Executive Search division competes directly for senior mandates while offering broader talent management and RPO services — broader incumbent with overlapping executive search practice.

Direct peers

• Badenoch + Clark: European executive search firm specializing in senior and specialist placements across multiple sectors — directly comparable executive and professional search offering, particularly in DACH.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a strong presence in Germany serving enterprise and mid-market clients for C-suite and senior leadership placements — directly comparable service offering and customer base to Die Stellenbesetzer.
• Egon Zehnder: Swiss-origin global executive search firm with deep European roots, particularly strong in industrial and engineering placements — comparable positioning serving similar Mittelstand and enterprise clients.
• Odgers Berndtson: International executive search firm with German offices competing for C-suite and senior management mandates in automotive, manufacturing, and industrial sectors — directly comparable to Die Stellenbesetzer's core market.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with established German presence serving large enterprises across industrial, financial services, and technology sectors — direct peer for senior leadership placements.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with significant German operations focused on board, CEO, and senior management placements across industrial and consumer sectors — direct competitor for the same enterprise mandates.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/DIESTELLENBESETZER
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/die-stellenbesetzer---dr--scharff-eiberger-personalberatung

Compliance2 records

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 Dr. Scharff + Eiberger