United Headhunters

What United Headhunters does

United Headhunters e.G. is a German registered cooperative (eingetragene Genossenschaft, e.G.) that operates a nationwide network of nine independent executive search and personnel consulting member firms. Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Karlsbad, Germany, the network comprises member firms that maintain full legal and economic independence while sharing the United Headhunters brand, providing face-to-face service across Germany's key economic regions — Munich, Hamburg, Stuttgart, the Nuremberg area, Freiburg, Bielefeld, Ettlingen/Karlsruhe, and Bad Sachsa. The cooperative is led by Vorstände Frank Höfer and Richard Sepp, with Dr. Romano Grohmann as Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender; ownership sits with the member firms rather than external investors, and no private equity or venture capital backing is indicated.

The core offering is contingency or retained executive search targeting senior management, C-suite, and specialist positions across approximately 19 industry verticals (automotive, mechanical engineering, IT, medical technology, defense, renewable energy, finance, chemicals/pharma, shipbuilding, and others). Supporting services include aptitude diagnostics (Eignungsdiagnostik), onboarding support, outplacement, career coaching (Karrierecoach), and a centralized job portal (Stellenbörse); a replacement guarantee (Nachbesetzungsgarantie) is offered on all mandates. No proprietary technology platform or AI tooling is described — the business runs on direct outreach (Direktansprache), accumulated candidate databases, and cross-regional mandate sharing among member firms.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees paid by client companies — typically a percentage of the placed candidate's first-year compensation — alongside supplementary HR consulting fees. Marketing runs through LinkedIn and XING, content marketing across 19 industry landing pages, the centralized Stellenbörse, and referrals. Customers are German large enterprises and mid-market companies; candidates are served free of charge. The network reports over 20 years of operating history and more than 10,000 successful placements cumulatively, and now also covers Austria and Switzerland via its Munich member.

Name

United Headhunters

Legal name

United Headhunters e.G.

Website

https://united-headhunters.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

United Headhunters is a German cooperative network of 9 independent executive search firms providing direct headhunting, executive search, specialist search, and HR consulting services to large enterprises and mid-market companies across Germany, with DACH-wide coverage via its Munich member.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Confidential/Replacement & Succession Search (BPACAAAK), General Permanent Placement (Multi-Industry) (BPACAFAA)

Keywords

• Executive search
• Headhunting services
• Personnel consulting
• Recruitment services
• Career coaching

Headquarters

HQ city

Karlsruhe

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices10 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Executive Search / Headhunting Services: The primary revenue stream is contingency-based or retained executive search fees charged to client companies seeking to fill senior-level, specialist, and executive positions. Fees are typically a percentage of the placed candidate's annual compensation, with services covering the full recruitment lifecycle from briefing through onboarding. The network also generates revenue through related HR consulting services including aptitude diagnostics (Eignungsdiagnostik), outplacement, career coaching, and onboarding support, which are offered as supplementary services to existing placement mandates or as standalone engagements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

United Headhunters operates as a registered cooperative (e.G.) of nine independent executive search and personnel consulting firms providing headhunting, direct approach / active sourcing, specialist search, executive search, aptitude diagnostics, onboarding, outplacement and career coaching services to corporate clients and candidates across Germany. The network covers more than 19 industries and supports clients from mid-market to enterprise in filling senior, specialist and hard-to-fill positions.

Product overview

United Headhunters is a nationwide German network of independent headhunting and recruitment companies offering a comprehensive suite of HR services. The portfolio centers on core recruitment services (Personalberatung, Headhunting, Executive Search, Specialist Search, Active Sourcing, Direktansprache) supported by value-added services (Eignungsdiagnostik, Onboarding, Outplacement, Karrierecoach). A centralized Stellenbörse (job portal) provides job listings across Germany. The network comprises 9 regionally-based member companies that maintain independence while benefiting from shared synergies, best practices, and a collective brand identity. The organization emphasizes confidentiality, structured processes, and industry-specific expertise across 18 sectors including automotive, IT, engineering, healthcare, and defense.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personalberatung (Recruitment Consulting) General recruitment consulting service covering the full hiring lifecycle for corporate clients across 19+ industries, delivered through the cooperative's nine regional member firms in Germany.
• Headhunting (Direct Approach / Active Sourcing / Specialist Search) Direct-approach headhunting service that proactively identifies and approaches passive candidates, including specialist and hard-to-fill profiles, on behalf of corporate clients across Germany.
• Executive Search Senior-level executive search service focused on filling C-suite, VP and director-level roles for corporate clients across 19+ industries in Germany.
• Eignungsdiagnostik (Aptitude Diagnostics) Candidate assessment and aptitude diagnostics service to evaluate fit of shortlisted candidates against role requirements, provided to corporate clients engaging the network for senior or specialist hires.
• Onboarding Post-hire onboarding support service that helps newly placed candidates integrate into their new role and organization, offered to corporate clients as part of the placement mandate.
• Outplacement Outplacement service providing career transition support to employees leaving an organization, typically employer-funded, helping candidates with career planning, market positioning and job search.
• Karrierecoach (Career Coaching)

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 successful placements of senior and specialist positions
• +1 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• BNI Personalberatung GmbHcoreOthersBNI Personalberatung GmbH, based in Heilsbronn near Nürnberg, is a founding member of the United Headhunters network. The firm specializes in executive search for industrial, automotive, and medical technology sectors, as well as commercial and sales positions, with an additional focus on market research. Frank Höfer serves as founding member and board member (Vorstand) of the United Headhunters network.
• RiSusPro GmbH (United Headhunters München)coreOthersRiSusPro GmbH operates under the United Headhunters Munich brand, serving the Munich metropolitan region, Germany-wide, and Austria/Switzerland. Richard Sepp is the managing partner and the newest member of the United Headhunters network. The firm offers rapid candidate presentation (2–3 weeks) and regular status reporting, with aptitude diagnostics for senior roles.
• Sommer & Hinst GmbHcoreOthersSommer & Hinst GmbH is a member of United Headhunters based in Hamburg. Founded in 2006, the firm focuses on executive search in the technically oriented SME sector. Martin Hinst and Oliver Steinmetz serve as managing partners. Industry specialties include mechanical engineering, process engineering, and energy.
• co-ship consult GmbHcoreOthersco-ship consult GmbH is a member of United Headhunters based in Bielefeld, serving the Ostwestfalen-Lippe (OWL) region. With over 25 years of experience, the firm focuses on SME recruitment across diverse industries including publishing, electrical engineering, retail, IT, logistics, food, and mechanical engineering. Stefan Tölke is the managing partner.
• MG Personal Consulting GmbHcoreOthersMG Personal Consulting GmbH is a founding member of United Headhunters based in Weinstadt near Stuttgart. With over 20 years of experience, the firm specializes in executive and specialist search across industries including plant engineering, automotive, chemical/pharmaceutical, defense, electrical engineering, renewable energy, finance, IT, plastics, mechanical engineering, and semiconductors. Michael Grimmeisen is the founding managing partner.
• Dr. Grohmann Personalmanagement und Consulting GmbHcoreOthersDr. Grohmann Personalmanagement und Consulting GmbH is a member of United Headhunters based in Freiburg, focused on south-west Germany. With over 20 years of experience, the firm specializes in executive search across sales, medical technology, mechanical engineering, logistics, finance, IT/telecom, electronics, and automotive. Dr. Romano Grohmann serves as Supervisory Board member (Aufsichtsrat) of the United Headhunters network.
• Die Stellenbesetzer | Dr. Scharff + Eiberger GmbH & Co. KGcoreOthersDie Stellenbesetzer is a founding member of United Headhunters based in Stuttgart, operating since 1997. The firm specializes in executive and specialist search across technology, engineering, IT, sales, automotive, construction, transportation, and insurance/finance sectors. Dr. Reinhard Scharff and Michael Eiberger serve as managing partners. The firm offers a placement guarantee.
• FIDELITAS – Unternehmens- und Personalberatung GmbH i.L.coreOthersFIDELITAS – Unternehmens- und Personalberatung GmbH i.L. is a founding member of United Headhunters based in Ettlingen near Karlsruhe. The firm covers a broad range of industries including mechanical engineering, automotive, finance, healthcare, hospitality, IT, logistics, and supply chain management. Werner Schmeiche is the founding managing partner.
• Personalberatung Weber GmbHcoreOthersPersonalberatung Weber GmbH is a member of United Headhunters based in Bad Sachsa in southern Lower Saxony. Founded in 1998, the firm specializes in executive search for the industrial and manufacturing sector with focus on automotive (OEM and Tier 1/2 suppliers), mechanical engineering, chemical/petrochemical, medical technology, FMCG, and construction. Thomas Weber is the managing partner.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Global organisational consulting firm with a substantial executive search practice serving German and international clients. Comparable in executive search and HR advisory offerings, with broader portfolio and significantly larger scale.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with established German practice serving large enterprises and industrial clients. Comparable in executive search offerings and DACH presence, but with broader international scale.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search firm with deep German and DACH roots that offers C-suite, board, and leadership advisory services. Comparable to United Headhunters in core executive search offering and German market presence, but vastly larger scale and global footprint.
• Robert Half: Global staffing and talent solutions firm with German operations covering professional and finance/accounting recruiting. Comparable to UH in permanent placement for specialist and mid-level roles, but with broader service portfolio and global infrastructure.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search leader with significant German operations offering C-suite and board-level search. Comparable to United Headhunters in executive search, but operates at a much larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong practice in industrial and technology sectors relevant to UH's vertical mix. Comparable in senior-level search and board advisory, but with global footprint.

Emerging players

• Hays: UK-listed specialist recruiter with significant German operations focused on professional, technical, and mid-to-senior level placements. Comparable to UH's specialist search and industry-vertical specialisation, but skews more toward contract/temporary staffing.
• PageGroup (Michael Page): UK-listed recruitment firm with operations across Germany offering permanent placement and specialist search for professional roles. Comparable to UH's specialist search offering, but operates more broadly across mid-level roles rather than C-suite focus.

Direct peers

• Kienbaum Consultants International: German-headquartered executive search and HR consulting firm offering executive search, leadership consulting, and outplacement. Directly comparable to United Headhunters across the full service portfolio (executive search, diagnostics, onboarding, outplacement, coaching) and in German Mittelstand focus.
• Odgers Berndtson: International executive search firm with strong German practice serving mid-market and large enterprises across functions. Directly comparable to United Headhunters in executive search focus, sector specialisation, and DACH market presence.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/united-headhunters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries9 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 United Headhunters