RP People

What RP People does

RP People is a Brussels-headquartered executive search and recruitment boutique specializing exclusively in public affairs, government relations, and communications roles. It is the dedicated talent arm of the Rud Pedersen Group, a pan-European public affairs and strategic communications consultancy founded in 2002 that today spans 17-18 offices in 16-17 countries with more than 500 consultants. RP People itself operates from four offices — Brussels, Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Stockholm — and has cumulatively served more than 200 companies, public entities, and organizations across Europe.

The firm's service portfolio centers on Executive Search (headhunting), with adjacent offerings including Interim Solutions, Organisational Development advisory, Candidate Validation (using Master International certified HR assessments), Expert Coaching and Top Executive Coaching, Strategic Communication advisory, Tender Management, and a Candidate Database for inbound CV submissions. There is no proprietary technology platform; delivery is human-led by senior consultants with domain credentials.

Commercially, RP People runs a traditional professional services model: engagement-based, quote-driven pricing with multi-year contracts. Go-to-market is primarily direct enterprise engagement, supplemented by content marketing through the 'Let's Talk People' blog and cross-referrals from the Rud Pedersen Group ecosystem, including sister agencies Rud Pedersen Public Affairs, Welcom, Fabula, VA, RetiEspaña, The Stockholm Project, and META Advisory. Customer segments focus on European corporations and trade associations requiring public affairs talent, with secondary exposure to EU institutions and policy organizations.

Name

RP People

Legal name

RP People

Website

https://rppeople.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

RP People is a Brussels-headquartered executive search boutique specializing in public affairs, government relations, and communications recruitment, operating four offices across Northern Europe as the talent arm of the Rud Pedersen Group.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Recruitment Services

NAICS

Temporary Help Services (561320)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive RPO (Leadership Hiring Programs) (BPACABAI)

akta.pro secondary industry

Professional / Specialist RPO (Hard-to-Fill Roles) (BPACABAH)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Public affairs recruitment
• Government relations hiring
• Communications headhunting
• Interim staffing solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Copenhagen

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Executive Search & Recruitment Services: RP People generates revenue through professional recruitment services including executive search, headhunting, candidate validation, and interim solutions. The firm helps clients establish or fill business critical functions in Public Affairs, Government Relations, and Communications.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels2 records

Core offering

RP People is an executive search and recruitment firm specializing in public affairs, government relations, and communications roles across Europe. The company provides headhunting, candidate validation, interim solutions, expert coaching, and organisational development advisory services to enterprise clients and public entities seeking to fill business-critical functions. As part of the Rud Pedersen Group, the firm leverages a network of 500+ consultants across 17 offices in 16 countries.

Product overview

RP People operates as a unified executive search and recruitment platform offering integrated services across multiple specializations. The core offerings include Executive Search (headhunting for senior and specialized roles), Interim Solutions (temporary staffing during transitions), and Organisational Development (advisory on structure and capabilities). These are complemented by specialized modules including Candidate Validation, Expert Coaching & Training, Top Executive Coaching, Strategic Communication, and Tender Management. The platform also maintains a Candidate Database for CV submissions. Services are delivered through a network of 4 offices (Brussels, Copenhagen, Helsinki, Stockholm) backed by the Rud Pedersen Group's 17 offices across 16 countries and 500+ consultants.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Headhunting and recruitment service focused on identifying and placing candidates for organizational needs, with special expertise in public affairs, government relations, and communications roles across Europe. Targets enterprise clients and public entities needing senior talent.
• Interim Solutions Temporary staffing service providing immediate support to organizations during periods of transition, change, or while searching for permanent hires in public affairs, government relations, and communications.
• Organisational Development Advisory service helping clients improve structure, capabilities, and best practices within their public affairs, government relations, and communications organizations.
• Candidate Validation Expert assessment and validation of candidate profiles and competencies, including HR assessments with Master International certification, to evaluate how candidates can quickly become effective in public affairs, government relations, and communications roles.
• Expert Coaching & Training Training programs and coaching services to help candidates and employees develop skills and knowledge needed for success in public affairs, government relations, and communications roles.
• Top Executive Coaching Specialized coaching services for senior executives to enhance leadership capabilities and professional effectiveness in public affairs and communications roles.
• Strategic Communication Advisory services focused on developing and enhancing organizational communication strategies and capabilities for public affairs and communications functions.
• Tender Management Support services for managing tender processes related to recruitment and staffing in public affairs and communications.

Named customers1 record

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rud Pedersen GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent company and primary network. RP People is part of the Rud Pedersen Group, Europe's leading public affairs and strategic communications consultancy. This partnership provides access to 500+ consultants across 17 offices in 16 countries.
• Rud Pedersen Public AffairscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSister company specializing in public affairs. RP People Brussels operates as the executive search arm of Rud Pedersen Public Affairs.
• WelcomminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Rud Pedersen Group network of public affairs and communications consultancies serving European markets.
• FabulaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Rud Pedersen Group network. Fabula operates in Lithuania and serves clients throughout Europe.
• VA (Vilands)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Rud Pedersen Group network. VA operates in Latvia and serves clients throughout Europe.
• RetiEspañaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the Rud Pedersen Group network. RetiEspaña operates in Spain and serves clients throughout Europe.
• The Stockholm ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partner in Sweden operating within the public affairs and communications space.
• META AdvisoryminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner listed in the Brussels office network. META Advisory operates in Estonia and provides advisory services.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Large global executive search and organisational consulting firm with a public sector and government services practice. Comparable to RP People in leadership search and organisational advisory, though operating at vastly greater scale across all functions.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with established public affairs, government, and policy search capabilities across Europe. Comparable to RP People's leadership-hiring focus but with broader sector coverage and global footprint.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm serving European multinationals and public-affairs-adjacent clients. Comparable to RP People on executive search and leadership advisory but with a much broader cross-functional mandate.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Public & Social Sector practice serving corporate, nonprofit, and government clients. Comparable to RP People as a leadership-hiring provider but operating across all functions at much greater scale.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with dedicated Public Sector and Healthcare practices that recruit senior leaders in regulated, policy-intensive industries. Closely comparable to RP People on the executive-search-for-policy-rich-roles angle, though operating at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Norman Broadbent: UK-headquartered executive search and leadership advisory firm serving European corporates and public-affairs clients. Comparable to RP People as a European specialist in leadership hiring with adjacent advisory services.
• Odgers Berndtson: European-headquartered mid-market executive search firm with strong public sector and communications practice. Closely comparable to RP People in size, geographic focus on Europe, and emphasis on senior leadership hiring for communications and policy-adjacent roles.
• Signium International: Mid-market global executive search firm with European roots serving corporate, public affairs, and communications clients. Comparable to RP People on size and European focus, with overlapping leadership-hiring capabilities in policy-adjacent sectors.

Emerging players

• Witt Kieffer: Specialist executive search firm focused on healthcare, education, and nonprofit/policy-impact sectors. Comparable to RP People as a specialist search provider for mission-driven and policy-rich leadership roles, though serving different end sectors.
• Alerion Advisors: Boutique executive search firm specialising in public affairs, government relations, and corporate communications leadership hiring across Europe. Direct competitor to RP People in the same specialist niche with overlapping client base of corporates, trade associations, and EU institutions.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/rp-people

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 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 RP People