Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search

What Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search does

Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search is a Dutch boutique executive search and interim management firm headquartered at Parnassusweg 8H, Amsterdam, operating through two Besloten Vennootschap (BV) entities — Herman Rutgers Executive Search BV (KvK 34313476) and Herman Rutgers Interim Search BV (KvK 66782090). Founded in 2008 by Petra Herman and Francine Rutgers, the firm specialises exclusively in placing senior leaders in corporate affairs and corporate communications functions across listed companies, the public sector, international organisations, and family businesses in the Netherlands. It reports a 98% placement success rate and an 85% two-year retention rate among placed professionals.

The firm offers three interconnected services: retained Executive Search for permanent placements, Interim Search for fixed-term senior roles, and Coaching (post-placement three-session programmes and six-session executive coaching) delivered by partner Paula Verheul. Operations are run by five partners — the two founders plus Nelieke Wismans (interim), Marieke van Riemsdijk (international), and Paula Verheul (coaching) — supported by two additional staff (seven total). The firm co-founded the Corporate Affairs Search Alliance (CASA) in 2017, a six-country network of independent corporate affairs executive search firms that provides cross-border candidate reach. Marketing is relationship-driven: thought-leadership interviews, the "Off the Record" podcast series, in-person events, and warm referrals from a 15-year candidate network; there are no digital self-serve channels. Back-office tooling is limited to OTYS (recruitment database), IBEO (accounting), and CV-OK (pre-employment screening).

Name

Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search

Legal name

Herman Rutgers Executive Search BV

Website

https://hermanrutgers.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search is an Amsterdam-based Dutch boutique founded in 2008, specialising exclusively in retained executive search, interim placement, and coaching for senior corporate affairs and communications leaders across listed companies, the public sector, and family businesses in the Netherlands.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Amsterdam

HQ country

Netherlands

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Executive Search: Retained search engagements for placing senior leaders in corporate affairs and communications roles across listed companies, public sector, and family businesses.
2. Interim Search: Interim staffing solutions for interim director positions and senior specialist roles in corporate affairs and communications.
3. Coaching: Coaching programs including post-placement coaching (three sessions) and executive coaching (typically six sessions). Coaching is offered as part of executive search or as standalone professional development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search is a specialized Dutch executive search firm that places permanent and interim senior leaders in corporate affairs, corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, financial communications, and internal communications roles across listed companies, public sector organizations, international firms, and family businesses. The firm complements its placements with executive coaching programs (typically three to six sessions) and extends its reach internationally through the co-founded Corporate Affairs Search Alliance (CASA) network of six independent executive search firms across six countries.

Product overview

Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search operates as a specialized executive search and interim management firm focused exclusively on the corporate affairs and communications profession. The company offers three interconnected services: Executive Search for permanent placements, Interim Search for temporary staffing needs, and Coaching as both an add-on to placements and a standalone service. The firm also participates in the Corporate Affairs Search Alliance (CASA), an international partnership network of six independent executive search firms across six countries, providing global reach for cross-border searches while maintaining personalized service delivery.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Executive Search Permanent placement service for executive and senior-level positions in corporate affairs, corporate communications, media relations, public affairs, financial communications, and internal communications roles, serving listed companies, public sector organizations, international firms, and family businesses.
• Interim Search Interim staffing solutions for interim director positions and senior specialist roles in corporate affairs and corporate communications, providing organizations with temporary leadership and specialized professionals for fixed-term assignments.
• Coaching Professional coaching services offered as part of executive search placement (three coaching sessions) or as standalone executive coaching (typically six sessions), focusing on personal development, leadership challenges, team dynamics, and career orientation.
• Corporate Affairs Search Alliance (CASA) International Network International network of six leading corporate affairs executive search firms across six countries, providing global access to top corporate affairs leadership talent for cross-border search mandates.

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% placement success rate
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Corporate Affairs Search Alliance (CASA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCASA (Corporate Affairs Search Alliance) is a global network of six independent executive search firms across six countries, co-founded by Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search. The alliance's mission is 'Making Corporate Affairs Better.' Members include Herman Rutgers (Netherlands), along with leading corporate affairs search firms in England, Germany, France, the United States, and Belgium. The alliance enables cross-border search mandates, shared candidate databases, and knowledge exchange on the corporate affairs profession globally.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Communications practice. Comparable in placing senior communications and public affairs leaders, though operating at much greater scale and broader functional scope than Herman Rutgers.
• Spencer Stuart: Global executive search firm with a recognized Communications Officers practice. Directly comparable in placing corporate communications and public affairs leaders at senior levels, but with a much broader industry and functional footprint than the Dutch boutique.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search firm with a dedicated communications officers practice and deep European presence. Competes for the same senior communications and corporate affairs mandates as Herman Rutgers, but operates across all leadership functions and geographies.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search firm with a dedicated Communications Officers Practice. Overlaps with Herman Rutgers in placing senior corporate communications and public affairs leaders, but operates across all C-suite functions and many industries worldwide rather than specializing in the corporate affairs niche.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm with a large executive search practice including communications and public affairs. A potential competitor for senior communications mandates, though operating at much greater scale and breadth than Herman Rutgers.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with experience placing communications and corporate affairs leaders. Comparable in serving senior communications mandates but operating across all functions and geographies.

Direct peers

• Corporate Affairs Search Alliance (CASA) Partners: The five other independent executive search firms in the CASA network co-founded by Herman Rutgers, operating in the UK, Germany, France, the United States, and Belgium. They share the same exclusive specialization in corporate affairs executive search and operate as peer firms within the alliance rather than as direct competitors in the Dutch market.
• Top of Minds: Dutch executive search boutique with a similar headcount, model, and client base to Herman Rutgers. Competes directly for senior-level mandates in the Netherlands across multiple functions, and would be considered the closest domestic peer in scale and approach.
• Ebbinge: Dutch executive search firm specializing in senior leadership mandates including communications and public affairs roles. Most directly comparable as a Netherlands-based boutique search competitor serving similar clients.

Emerging players

• True Search: Executive search firm that operates globally with a practice focused on communications, marketing, and public affairs leadership. Comparable in niche focus on corporate communications but with different geographic emphasis.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/herman-rutgers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Herman Rutgers Executive & Interim Search