Michael Berglund

What Michael Berglund does

Michaël Berglund is a Stockholm-based leadership advisory firm founded in 1985 that serves Swedish companies, government agencies, and organizations across four interconnected service lines: Executive Search (permanent CEO, management team, and board recruitment), Accelerate Search & Interim Management (rapid interim placements delivered within 7 days, extended globally through the WIL Group partnership), Leadership Development & Advisory (executive coaching, mentorship, and management team development), and Board Services (board member training, board evaluations, and bespoke board development). The firm is privately held as Michaël Berglund AB, operates sister companies Dmatch and HumanCore, and is led by founder Michaël Berglund together with a partner group including Michaëla Berglund, Carina Thorén, Ewa Kuszelewski, Joakim Säll, and Patrik Peter.

The firm's underlying capabilities rest on proprietary methodologies developed over decades — including a board evaluation framework refined since 2003, scientific psychological testing tools for assessments, and a growing proprietary data set from 2,500+ completed search assignments yielding a 97% two-year placement retention rate. It also operates the Michaël Berglund Board Network, an alumni community of 2,800+ leaders and board professionals, and produces content assets including the annual Leadership Report (since 2024) and the Ledarskapsresan podcast.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees across all four lines: retainer-based executive search engagements (quote-based), interim management placements, individual and group leadership development programs, and disclosed-price training courses ranging from 4,950 SEK (Board Boost, half-day) to 39,900 SEK (Styrelsestolen, 3.5 days). Go-to-market is exclusively direct, with senior partners engaging enterprise clients in Stockholm; training programs are delivered open-enrollment at venues in Stockholm and Högberga Gård on Lidingö.

Name

Michael Berglund

Legal name

Michaël Berglund AB

Website

https://michaelberglund.se

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Michaël Berglund is a Stockholm-based executive search and leadership advisory firm founded in 1985, serving Swedish companies, government agencies, and boards through executive search, interim management, leadership development, and board training services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Leadership Advisory

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Administrative Management and General Management Consulting Services (541611)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Talent Management & Leadership Advisory (Succession, Performance, Culture) (BPACAJAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Interim Executive & Fractional Leadership Placement (BPACAAAJ), C-Suite & Senior Executive Coaching (EDABANAA), Team & Group Executive Coaching (Leadership Teams) (EDABANAF)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Interim management placement
• Board director training
• Leadership development programs
• Leadership assessment services

Headquarters

HQ city

Stockholm

HQ country

Sweden

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: Retainer-based executive search for CEOs, management teams, and board members. The firm charges professional fees for identifying, assessing, and placing senior leaders in client organizations.
2. Board Training Programs: Open enrollment and bespoke board director training programs including Styrelsestolen (3.5 days), Board Boost (half-day), and specialized courses. Fees range from 4,950 SEK to 39,900 SEK per participant.
3. Leadership Development Services: Individual coaching, mentorship, leadership transition support, and management team development programs. Group programs including leadership acceleration initiatives.
4. Interim Management: Rapid placement of interim executives for transitional periods, strategic projects, or operational roles. Extended globally through WIL Group partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Michaël Berglund is a Swedish leadership advisory firm that recruits senior executives and board members, places interim managers, delivers leadership coaching and team development, and runs board training and evaluation programs for Swedish companies, government agencies, and organizations. Services span permanent executive search, interim management (placed within 7 days), individual and group leadership development, and structured board director training delivered from Stockholm.

Product overview

Michael Berglund is a leadership advisory firm offering a portfolio of four interconnected service lines: Executive Search (permanent leadership recruitment), Accelerate Search & Interim Management (temporary senior placements), Leadership Development & Advisory (coaching and team development), and Board Services (board training and evaluation). The firm also publishes an annual Leadership Report and produces a leadership podcast. Training programs include Board Boost, Styrelsestolen, and board secretary courses. All services are delivered from Stockholm and are focused on Swedish companies, government agencies, and organizations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Board Network: Alumni network for board training participants with over 2,800 leaders and board members
• Ledarskapsresan

Products and services

• Executive Search Recruitment of CEOs, management teams, and board members for Swedish organizations, including confidential candidate identification, requirements profiling, candidate search, screening, client meetings with finalists, reference checks, and placement.
• Accelerate Search & Interim Management Placement of senior interim managers, change consultants, and business transformation specialists into client organizations for defined periods, typically delivered within 7 days from engagement start. Extended globally through partnership with Worldwide Interim Leadership Group (WIL Group).
• Leadership Development & Advisory Individual executive coaching, mentorship, leadership transition support, and management team development services supported by scientifically-validated psychological testing tools.
• Board Services Board member recruitment, board evaluations, and bespoke board development services for Swedish organizations, including comprehensive board assessment processes using proprietary methodology developed from thousands of data points since 2003.
• Styrelsestolen – Board Training Program Comprehensive 3.5-day board training covering corporate governance, financial analysis, ESG, cybersecurity, and board career development, culminating in an exam and diploma; priced at 39,900 SEK excluding VAT.
• Board Boost: Scale-ups Half-day (1-day clock time) board training focused on board dynamics in fast-growing scale-up companies, led by Katarina Bonde; priced at 4,950 SEK excluding VAT.
• Board Secretary Training One-day training program for board secretaries covering board protocols, legal responsibilities, documentation, and collaboration with chairpersons and board members; priced at 11,900 SEK excluding VAT.
• Michaël Berglund Board Network Alumni network for board training participants with over 2,800 members, offering exclusive events, networking, and continued professional development for board professionals.

Quantifiable outcome

• 97% of final candidates stay in position for 2+ years
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Worldwide Interim Leadership Group (WIL Group)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInternational partnership enabling rapid placement of interim executives across 6 continents. As members of WIL Group, Michaël Berglund can recruit leadership talent globally with the same speed and efficiency as domestic placements.
• DmatchminorOthersSister company within Michaël Berglund Group, focused on executive search services.
• HumanCoreminorOthersSister company offering leadership development programs including Core Leaders, a 10-person senior leadership development program running for 12 years.
• Family Business Network (FBN)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMichaël and Michaëla Berglund participated in FBN podcast episode discussing family business dynamics and ownership.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Spencer Stuart: One of the world's largest executive search and leadership advisory firms, with deep board practice. Competes directly in the same CEO, board, and senior management assignments.
• Odgers Berndtson: International executive search firm with established Nordic operations. Direct competitor in senior-level executive and board recruitment.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with strong Nordic offices. Direct competitor for C-suite and board mandates across Swedish enterprises.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with strong Nordic presence. Most direct comparable in terms of senior-level search, board advisory, and integrated leadership services.
• Stanton Chase: Global executive search firm with established Nordic offices. Competes directly for mid-to-senior executive mandates in the Swedish market.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global leadership advisory and executive search firm. Comparable in combining executive search with leadership assessment and board advisory services.
• Valtus Assignment Group: Nordic specialist in interim management and executive transition placements. Most directly comparable competitor in the interim management space where Michaël Berglund operates Accelerate Search.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Largest global organizational consulting firm spanning executive search, talent management, and RPO. Provides comparable services but at much greater scale across broader HR and consulting portfolio.

Regional players

• Alumni Executive Search: Swedish-based executive search firm focused on Nordic senior-level placements. Direct local competitor in the same geography with similar client profile.
• Novare Executive Search: Swedish executive search and interim management firm. Closely comparable service mix including retained search and interim placements in the Nordic market.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/michael-berglund-executive-search

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 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 Michael Berglund