Joker Squad Selection
Joker Squad Selection is the executive recruitment brand of Swiss family-owned staffing firm Joker Personal AG, placing management and leadership candidates across German-speaking Switzerland via personal consultation, contingency search, and retainer mandates.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1997
- HeadquartersZürich, Switzerland
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Joker Squad Selection does
Joker Squad Selection (operating as Joker Kaderselektion) is the executive recruitment arm of Joker Personal AG, a family-owned Swiss staffing firm founded in 1997 by Armin Rüttimann. The company specializes in recruiting and placing management and leadership-level ("Kader") candidates across German-speaking Switzerland, operating from two physical consultation locations in Zürich and Affoltern am Albis as part of a 12-branch network under the parent group. Revenue is generated primarily through contingency-based placement fees calculated as a percentage of the placed candidate's annual gross salary (13% up to CHF 120,000 and 15% above that threshold), supplemented by retainer mandates with staged 1/3 payments, Try & Hire probationary placements, payrolling, and personnel administration services.
The company serves employers across 16+ vertical sectors — including healthcare, Spitex/nursing, industrial/technical/construction, commercial/IT, hospitality, banking, insurance, logistics, legal consulting, and public administration — and also provides free services to executive job seekers. Its go-to-market is a personal, consultation-led sales motion delivered face-to-face at offices and via email/telephone, supported by a website with industry-specific landing pages for content marketing. Distribution is exclusively direct (no third-party resellers or marketplaces), and pricing is quote-based and negotiated per engagement, with customer protection and refund guarantee structures tied to candidate early departures.
Underlying technology is minimal: the firm discloses no proprietary platform, no AI/ML capabilities, no API integrations, no mobile applications, and no SaaS product. Operations rely on traditional recruiter-led search using personal networks, newspaper/internet job advertising (passed through at cost), and reference-checking workflows. Ownership remains 100% with the Rüttimann family — Armin Rüttimann transitioned to Executive Chairman in 2025, with children David Rüttimann (Co-CEO, technology focus, since 2005) and Alexa Rüttimann (Co-CEO, HR focus, since 2008) running operations, supported by Board member Pia Rüttimann. The firm is regulated under Switzerland's AVG (Employment Mediation Act) and was recognized by Handelszeitung in 2026 as one of Switzerland's best staffing agencies.
Joker Squad Selection firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Joker Squad Selection
- Legal name
- Joker Personal AG
- Website
- https://jokerkaderselektion.ch
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1997
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Joker Squad Selection is the executive recruitment brand of Swiss family-owned staffing firm Joker Personal AG, placing management and leadership candidates across German-speaking Switzerland via personal consultation, contingency search, and retainer mandates.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Joker Squad Selection industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Executive Search and Recruitment Services
- NAICS
- Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)
- SIC
- Services-Employment Agencies (7361)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Temp-to-Hire Staffing (BPACACAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- National Generalist Staffing Firms (BPACACAI)
Keywords
Where Joker Squad Selection is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Zürich
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Joker Squad Selection business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Revenue model
- Executive Placement Fees (Success-Based): Contingency-based placement fees calculated as a percentage of the placed candidate's annual gross salary. The fee structure is 13% for annual gross salaries up to CHF 120,000, and 15% for salaries from CHF 120,001 onwards (plus VAT). The annual gross salary calculation includes 13th month salary, bonuses, commissions, profit-sharing, and other compensation.
- Retainer-Based Recruitment Mandates: For dedicated recruitment mandates, a flat fee is agreed upon with payment split into three portions: 1/3 deposit at order placement, 1/3 upon presentation of suitable candidates, and 1/3 upon contract signing. This model covers comprehensive services including job posting, candidate sourcing, interviews, and coordination.
- Try & Hire - Probationary Management Placement: Management on trial basis allowing employers to test selected candidates for three months before committing to permanent employment. Candidates remain under contract with Joker during the trial period. If the employer is satisfied, permanent hire occurs without additional costs.
- Payrolling Services: Payroll administration services where Joker takes contractual responsibility for new and existing employees, handling salary payments, payroll processing, and social security contributions on behalf of client companies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | One time/ perpetual license | Standard Placement: 13% fee for salaries up to CHF 120,000 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | One time/ perpetual license | Premium Placement: 15% fee for salaries from CHF 120,001 |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Retainer Mandate: 1/3 + 1/3 + 1/3 payment structure |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Guarantee refund structure for early candidate departure |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels4 records
Joker Squad Selection product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Joker Squad Selection (Joker Kaderselektion) provides executive recruitment and selection services focused on filling management and leadership positions across multiple industries in German-speaking Switzerland. The firm handles the full hiring cycle from job postings and candidate sourcing through interviews, reference checks, and candidate presentation. Supporting services include Try & Hire (probationary management placement for three months), Payrolling administration, and Personnel Administration for placed executives.
Product overview
Joker Kaderselektion is a specialized executive recruitment brand of Joker Personal AG, offering a unified suite of staffing services focused on filling management and leadership positions (Kaderstellen). The core offering combines executive recruitment and selection services with supporting services including Try & Hire (trial employment), Payrolling, and Personnel Administration. The company operates primarily as a service-based business rather than a software platform, matching qualified executives with client companies across diverse industries in Switzerland.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Rekrutierung und Selektion auf Managementebene (Executive Recruitment and Selection) Executive recruitment service covering the full hiring cycle from job postings through interviews to candidate profiles, specifically focused on management and leadership positions for employers in German-speaking Switzerland.
- Try & Hire (Management auf Probe) Trial employment service allowing companies to test selected management talents for three months before committing to permanent employment, with candidates remaining under contract with Joker during the trial period.
- Payrolling Payroll administration service where Joker takes contractual responsibility for new and existing employees, handling salary payments, payroll processing, and social security contributions on behalf of client companies.
- Personaladministration (Personnel Administration) HR administration service handling personnel administration tasks for client companies, supporting ongoing human resources management needs.
- Dauerstellen (Permanent Placement) Permanent placement service for executive positions, handling the complete recruitment workflow from vacancy posting through candidate evaluation to placement, governed by success-based fees.
Companies that use Joker Squad Selection
Customer profileSegments16 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Joker Squad Selection technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Joker Squad Selection partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Joker Squad Selection competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Adecco Group: Swiss-headquartered global staffing and workforce solutions leader operating across general staffing, professional placement, and executive search (Akkodis, LHH). Overlaps with Joker on Swiss placement market but operates at vastly larger scale and broader service portfolio.
- Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with an executive search division serving Swiss clients on senior leadership and board placements. Overlaps with Joker on Swiss executive search but operates at global scale with broader consulting offerings.
- Randstad Switzerland: Global staffing firm with Swiss operations offering permanent placement, temporary staffing, and HR solutions across multiple industries. Comparable on multi-vertical Swiss placement but serves broader workforce segments than Joker's executive focus.
- Manpower Switzerland: Global staffing firm operating in Switzerland with permanent placement, temporary staffing, and professional recruitment across industries. Comparable on Swiss multi-vertical staffing presence and fee-based placement model.
Direct peers
- Robert Half: Global staffing firm with Swiss operations specializing in finance, accounting, IT, and administrative executive and professional placements. Comparable to Joker's commercial, sales, and IT vertical and executive placement fees.
- Michael Page: Global professional recruitment firm with dedicated Swiss operations placing mid-to-senior management and executive candidates across multiple sectors. Directly comparable to Joker Kaderselektion on executive-level permanent placement, multi-vertical coverage, and contingency-fee model.
- Hays: UK-listed specialist recruitment group with a Swiss presence focused on professional and executive permanent placement across industries including healthcare, construction, and commercial functions. Closely comparable on fee-based placement model and vertical breadth.
- Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm serving Swiss clients with senior leadership, board, and CEO placements across multiple industries. Comparable on executive-only focus, multi-vertical Swiss coverage, and retained-search service model.
- Egon Zehnder: Swiss-headquartered global executive search firm specializing in senior leadership and board-level placements across industries. Directly comparable on Swiss base, executive-only focus, and relationship-driven senior search.
- Personal Contact AG: Swiss-based personnel services firm offering permanent placement and payrolling services across German-speaking Switzerland. Comparable on Swiss regional focus, mid-market employer client base, and combined placement-plus-payrolling offering.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Joker Squad Selection social profiles
Digital presenceJoker Squad Selection financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Joker Squad Selection leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Joker Squad Selection subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Joker Squad Selection funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Joker Squad Selection M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Joker Squad Selection
What does Joker Squad Selection do?
Joker Squad Selection (Joker Kaderselektion) provides executive recruitment and selection services focused on filling management and leadership positions across multiple industries in German-speaking Switzerland. The firm handles the full hiring cycle from job postings and candidate sourcing through interviews, reference checks, and candidate presentation. Supporting services include Try & Hire (probationary management placement for three months), Payrolling administration, and Personnel Administration for placed executives.
Is Joker Squad Selection a public or private company?
Joker Squad Selection is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Joker Squad Selection founded?
Joker Squad Selection was founded in 1997. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Joker Squad Selection based?
Joker Squad Selection is headquartered in Zürich, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does Joker Squad Selection make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Executive Placement Fees (Success-Based) is the primary driver. The others are retainer-Based Recruitment Mandates, try & Hire - Probationary Management Placement and payrolling Services.
Who are Joker Squad Selection's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Adecco Group, Korn Ferry, Randstad Switzerland and Manpower Switzerland. Direct peers are Robert Half, Michael Page, Hays, Spencer Stuart, Egon Zehnder and Personal Contact AG.
Does Joker Squad Selection have an API?
No public API is recorded for Joker Squad Selection.
What industry is Joker Squad Selection in?
Joker Squad Selection's product category is Executive Search and Recruitment Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPACACAG, Temp-to-Hire Staffing, with a secondary code of BPACACAI, National Generalist Staffing Firms. Its NAICS code is 561311 and its SIC code is 7361.