Baumann

What Baumann does

Baumann AG (legal entity: Baumann Unternehmensberatung Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs AG) is a Frankfurt am Main-based executive search and management consultancy founded in 1977. The firm specializes in retainer-based Executive & Professional Search, filling top management, C-level, middle management, and specialist positions for German Mittelstand companies, large corporate groups and conglomerates, and public-sector organizations. Operations are delivered through 25 specialized industry-focused consultants supported by an in-house research department with industry competence centers, executing approximately 650-700 search mandates annually and over 30,000 mandates cumulatively since founding.

The service portfolio combines core executive search with adjacent HR and management consulting: Baumann Executive & Professional Search is the central offering, supplemented by Baumann Human Resources & Managementberatung covering management appraisal (360-degree feedback), coaching, training, and personnel marketing. Supporting tools include Baumann WebSearch (active sourcing across national and international CV databases and social networks), the proprietary Baumann Datenbank (a 40+ year candidate database growing by thousands of profiles annually), and Baumann Diagnostik based on the licensed Hogan Personality Inventory for scientific personality and competency assessment. The Baumann Telephone Receiver trademark, established in 1977, remains the company's signature brand asset and the most recognized advertising concept in German personnel consulting.

Commercially, Baumann operates a private, owner-managed business model with no parent company, no external investors, and no disclosed funding. Pricing is retainer-based and project-specific for individual search mandates, with fees not publicly disclosed. Geographic reach is primarily German-speaking markets (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), with international mandate capability in the USA and Asia delivered through partner research networks. Distribution is direct: partners personally handle initial candidate contact, supported by a multi-channel digital presence (LinkedIn, XING, newsletter, career portal) and weekly outreach to over 11,000 passive candidates via the Baumann Karriere Newsletter. Leadership transitioned generationally in October 2020 with Dr. Michael Faller assuming the sole Vorstand role.

Name

Baumann

Legal name

Baumann Unternehmensberatung Beteiligungs- und Verwaltungs AG

Website

https://baumann-ag.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Baumann AG is a Frankfurt-based executive search and HR consultancy founded in 1977, serving German Mittelstand, large corporations, and public-sector clients via 25 specialized consultants who execute roughly 650-700 retainer-based search mandates annually across DACH and select international markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

M&A HR Advisory (Due Diligence, Integration, Carve-outs) (BPACAJAL)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Professional search consulting
• Leadership recruitment
• HR management consulting
• Talent assessment

Headquarters

HQ city

Frankfurt

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, Others

Revenue model

1. Executive & Professional Search Services: Retainer-based executive search services for filling top management and specialist positions. Core revenue stream supporting companies, corporate groups, and public corporations in filling key leadership roles nationally and internationally. Handles approximately 650-700 search mandates annually.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Baumann is a German executive search and HR consulting firm that recruits C-Level executives, senior management, and professional specialists for corporations, German Mittelstand companies, and public-sector organizations. The firm delivers retainer-based search mandates using a six-step systematic methodology combining direct approach, web-based sourcing, proprietary database search, and advertisement-based recruitment, supplemented by full-service HR consulting including management appraisal, coaching, training, and Hogan-based personality diagnostics.

Product overview

Baumann AG operates as a unified executive search and HR consulting platform combining multiple integrated services. The core offering is Baumann Executive & Professional Search, which provides executive recruitment across all seniority levels. This is supported by Baumann Human Resources & Managementberatung covering assessment and development services. Key supporting modules include Baumann Eignungsdiagnostik (Hogan Assessment-based personality profiling), Baumann WebSearch (active sourcing tool), Baumann Datenbank (proprietary candidate database), Baumann Karriere Newsletter (talent outreach), Baumann Coaching (executive coaching), Baumann Management Appraisal (360-degree feedback), Talent- und Management-Audit (succession planning), and the distinctive Baumann-Telefonhörer Anzeige (advertising concept). These products function as integrated components within a single consultative recruitment and talent development service rather than standalone software offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Baumann Executive & Professional Search: Core recruitment and personnel selection services focusing on key positions including management board, C-level, middle management, and specialists.
• Baumann Human Resources & Managementberatung
• Baumann WebSearch
• Baumann Datenbank
• Baumann Diagnostik (HPI)
• Baumann Management Appraisal
• Baumann Coaching
• Talent- und Management-Audit

Products and services

• Baumann Executive & Professional Search Core executive and professional search service for placing C-level executives, senior management (Geschäftsführung, Bereichsleitung, Abteilungsleitung, Mittleres Management), and professional specialists for corporations, German Mittelstand companies, and public-sector organizations. Uses a systematic methodology combining direct approach (Direktansprache), Baumann WebSearch, anzeigengestützte Suche, the proprietary Baumann Datenbank, and network partners.
• Baumann Human Resources & Managementberatung Full-service HR and management consulting offering covering Baumann Management Appraisal (360-degree feedback), Coaching (executive coaching, change management, conflict management, communication training, stress/self/time management), Training, and Personalmarketing. Targets organizations looking to assess, develop, and retain leadership talent.

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Personalwirtschaft Round TableminorOthers · 1 January 2023Expert round table participation with other leading headhunters to discuss current developments in the personnel consulting market and exchange insights on recruitment trends.
• International Research PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of international research partners enabling Baumann to conduct executive searches in the USA and Asia. Partners provide local market knowledge and candidate access for international mandate fulfillment.
• Leading Outplacement and Career ConsultanciesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative network with leading outplacement and career consultancies creating a dense network from which both clients and candidates benefit equally in search mandates.
• HOGAN Assessment (Hogan Personality Inventory)coreTechnology or IntegrationLicensed use of HOGAN Assessment's scientifically-based online tool for candidate personality assessment and evaluation. Provides comprehensive competency analysis including HPI, HDS, and MVPI components.
• Bundesverband Deutscher Unternehmensberater BDU e.V.minorOthersProfessional association membership with commitment to principles of qualified consulting (GoPB - Grundsätze ordnungsgemäßer und qualifizierter Personalberatung).

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Signium: International executive search firm originally founded as a German-headquartered practice, with strong European mid-market and board-level search expertise. Closely comparable to Baumann on geography and Mittelstand/mid-cap client base.
• Egon Zehnder: Swiss-headquartered global executive search firm with deep DACH presence and strong C-level/board practice. Directly comparable to Baumann in target customer (CEOs, boards) and service offering, though operating at significantly larger global scale.
• Intersearch Executive Search: German and European executive search network with comparable Mittelstand and senior-management mandate profile. Closely comparable to Baumann on geography, methodology (direct approach, partner-led), and target customer.
• Spencer Stuart: One of the world's leading executive search consultancies, with a strong DACH practice serving large enterprises and Mittelstand clients. Closely comparable to Baumann on board-level and senior-executive mandates and proprietary research methodology.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with strong executive search and leadership advisory practices serving large corporates and boards. Comparable to Baumann in core service (C-suite/board search) and senior-level client base, with much broader geographic reach.
• Stanton Chase: Global executive search firm with a strong DACH/German partner base, serving mid-sized to large companies across industries. Comparable to Baumann in board/C-level focus and Mittelstand client exposure.
• Odgers Berndtson: International executive search firm with strong UK/European presence serving board and C-level clients. Comparable to Baumann in candidate-led, partner-driven search approach and senior mandate mix.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with active DACH operations and similar target client profile (CEOs, boards, senior executives). Comparable to Baumann in search methodology, candidate assessment integration, and senior-level focus.

Broad incumbents

• PageGroup (Michael Page): Global recruitment group covering executive search (Page Executive), professional, and interim placements. Overlaps with Baumann in executive/professional search and DACH market presence, but operates at much larger scale across all seniority levels.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search division plus adjacent talent management, RPO, and assessment services. Broader portfolio than Baumann but overlapping in executive search and Hogan-based diagnostics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/baumannag
• Facebookfacebook.com/BaumannUnternehmensberatung
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/baumann-unternehmensberatung

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 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 Baumann