What Kienbaum Netherlands does

Kienbaum Netherlands is an Amsterdam-based executive search and leadership consulting firm that serves family businesses, PE/VC-backed companies, and publicly listed organizations across the Netherlands and broader EMEA. It operates as the Dutch arm of the Kienbaum network, which was founded in Germany in 1945 and maintains 30+ offices across 20+ countries; the local Dutch legal entity is The Executive Consulting Group Holding B.V., headquartered at Herikerbergweg 292, Amsterdam. Its stated clientele mix is approximately 30% family businesses and 40% PE/VC-backed companies, with publicly listed firms comprising the balance, and a small team of roughly six senior consultants and supporting staff (per available firmographic data) delivering engagements from offices in Amsterdam, with cross-border reach into DACH, the UK, Switzerland, and the Nordics.

The firm delivers five integrated service lines: Executive Search (C-suite and senior management placements, averaging 8-12 weeks from briefing to appointment), Board Services (composition and strengthening of boards of directors and supervisory boards), Assessment Services (objective evaluation of candidates and sitting executives using scientifically based assessments), Executive Interim Management (placement of interim executives within 2 weeks for transitions, crises, or growth periods), and the Kienbaum Governance Academy (a five-day boardroom training programme run with the Governance Academy at Parc Broekhuizen in Leersum). It also operates two specialized tools/products: the Founder Impact Profile (a 20-minute psychometric assessment for startup due diligence and team mapping) and the annual Kienbaum Salary Forecast (a research publication covering 20+ countries). Methodology pairs senior partner-led search processes with AI-assisted sourcing and predictive matching that score candidates on success probability, behavioral fit, cultural alignment, and strategic fit.

Kienbaum Netherlands operates a senior partner-led, direct enterprise sales model with no channel partners or resellers. Pricing is quote-based per engagement and is not publicly disclosed. Notable logos cited publicly include Moso International, Alliance Healthcare, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Ottobock, Philips, HOYA Vision Netherlands, Intersnack, and Engelhorn KGaA across industries such as sustainable building materials, healthcare and pharma distribution, retail, food and beverage, optical products, and prosthetics. The firm is privately held with no disclosed parent company, funding rounds, or audited financial statements available; revenue figures are not publicly disclosed, and the entity has no public app or API surface area.

Name

Kienbaum Netherlands

Legal name

The Executive Consulting Group Holding B.V.

Website

https://kienbaum.nl

Company type

Private

Founded year

1945

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Kienbaum Netherlands is an Amsterdam-based executive search and leadership advisory firm serving family businesses, PE/VC-backed companies, and publicly listed organizations across the Netherlands and EMEA. It operates as the Dutch arm of the 1945-founded Kienbaum network, combining senior-partner-led search with AI-assisted sourcing and assessment services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Leadership Consulting

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Management Consulting Services (54161)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Leadership assessment services
• Board advisory consulting
• Interim executive placement
• Executive recruitment consulting

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, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Executive Search Services: Customized executive search engagements for C-suite and senior management positions, from initial briefing through placement and onboarding
2. Assessment Services: Objective assessment of candidates and sitting executives for better appointment and development decisions
3. Board Services: Guidance in composition and strengthening of boards of directors and supervisory boards
4. Executive Interim Management: Placement of experienced interim executives during transition, crisis, or growth periods
5. Kienbaum Governance Programme: Five-day governance training programme for directors and supervisory board members, conducted at Parc Broekhuizen

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Kienbaum Netherlands provides bespoke executive search for C-suite and senior management positions, supported by board services (composition and governance), candidate and sitting-executive assessments, executive interim management placements, and the five-day Kienbaum Governance Academy training programme. Each engagement is overseen personally by a senior partner from briefing through selection, placement, onboarding, and follow-up, leveraging an international network of 30+ offices across 20+ countries combined with AI-assisted sourcing and scientifically-validated assessments.

Product overview

Kienbaum Netherlands offers a unified executive search and leadership consulting platform with four integrated service pillars: Executive Search (core placement service), Board Services (governance support), Assessment Services (candidate evaluation), and Executive Interim Management (temporary leadership). These core services are supported by the Kienbaum Governance Academy (a five-day boardroom training program) and the Founder Impact Profile (a psychometric assessment tool for startup due diligence). The portfolio is enhanced by annual research publications including the Salary Forecast. The company combines human expertise with AI-assisted sourcing and predictive matching to deliver tailored leadership solutions for family businesses, PE/VC firms, and publicly listed companies across the Netherlands and DACH region.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kienbaum Governance Academy: A five-day governance training program for directors, supervisory board members, and commissioners, focused on boardroom dynamics and governance.

Products and services

• Executive Search Bespoke executive search for C-suite and senior management positions, combining in-depth market knowledge with research-driven selection of leaders aligned with strategy, culture, and ambitions. Each engagement is personally overseen by a senior partner from briefing through onboarding and follow-up. Aimed at boards, C-suite, and senior management of family businesses, PE/VC-backed companies, and publicly listed organizations.
• Board Services Guidance in the composition and strengthening of boards of directors and supervisory boards, including confidential processes for governance modernisation. Aimed at supervisory boards, family-business owners, and listed companies seeking to professionalise and refresh their boards.
• Assessment Services Objective assessment of candidates and sitting executives for better decisions in appointments or development, using scientifically-based assessments. Supports both appointment decisions (pre-placement) and development decisions for existing executives and board members.
• Executive Interim Management Rapid placement of experienced interim executives for organizations during transition, crisis, or growth periods, while continuing to search for the right permanent candidate. Aimed at family businesses and large corporates needing leadership continuity during change.
• Kienbaum Governance Academy Five-day governance training programme for supervisory board members, regulators, and directors, conducted at Parc Broekhuizen in Leersum. Designed for commissioners, supervisory board members, and directors seeking to strengthen their role in the boardroom; co-organised with Governance Academy as a proven 15-year programme.
• Founder Impact Profile Psychometric assessment tool that scientifically maps personality, strengths, and team dynamics in 20 minutes per participant, used for due diligence and smarter hiring decisions in startup and scaleup contexts.
• Kienbaum Salary Forecast Annual salary research publication covering more than 20 countries worldwide, providing data-driven insights on salary trends, pay decisions, and workforce planning for C-level executives and HR leaders.

Quantifiable outcome

• Average 8-12 weeks from briefing to appointment
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Governance AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKienbaum collaborates with Governance Academy to organize the five-day Kienbaum Governance Programme, designed for directors and supervisory board members. This is a proven 15-year program in governance and boardroom dynamics, conducted at Parc Broekhuizen in Leersum.
• SER TopvrouwenminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with SER Topvrouwen network dedicated to accelerating the progression of female executives in Dutch business. Kienbaum actively prioritizes diversity in candidate selection as part of Executive Search Code commitments.
• Black Jaguar FoundationminorOthersKienbaum supports the Black Jaguar Foundation, dedicated to establishing the Araguaia Biodiversity Corridor in Brazil. For every successful placement, Kienbaum plants trees together with clients to celebrate success and contribute to greener future.
• Wittener Institut für Familienunternehmen (WIFU)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch collaboration with German colleagues at Kienbaum and WIFU on 'New Work' trends in family businesses, providing insights relevant for Dutch family businesses, start-ups, and PE firms.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Signium: Global executive search firm with strong European presence and family business/board practice. Competes for similar mid-to-senior executive mandates in the Netherlands and DACH region.
• Russell Reynolds Associates: Global executive search firm with comparable C-suite, board, and assessment practices. Strong consumer/retail and healthcare verticals overlap with Kienbaum Netherlands' customer base (e.g., HOYA Vision, Walgreens Boots Alliance).
• Pedersen & Partners: European executive search firm with strong emerging markets and PE/VC focus. Confirmed talent overlap — Kienbaum Netherlands' Jan Westerink previously worked at Pedersen & Partners — and comparable consumer/retail practice.
• Spencer Stuart: One of the world's leading executive search firms with deep C-suite and board practice, directly comparable to Kienbaum Netherlands. Notably, Kienbaum's own consultant Franziska Huth previously worked at Spencer Stuart, confirming direct talent and capability overlap.
• DHR Global: Global executive search firm with comparable C-suite and board offerings. Confirmed direct talent overlap as Kienbaum Netherlands consultant Franziska Huth previously worked at DHR Global.
• Odgers Berndtson: Global executive search firm with particularly strong family business, board, and private equity practices. Highly comparable to Kienbaum Netherlands' specialty mix of 30% family business and 40% PE/VC clients.
• Egon Zehnder: Global executive search and leadership advisory firm with comparable board, CEO, and senior management search offerings. Strong European presence makes it a primary direct competitor for cross-border mandates in the Netherlands and DACH region.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global executive search and Heidrick Consulting firm offering executive search, board services, and leadership assessment — directly overlapping with all of Kienbaum Netherlands' four core service pillars. Listed-company and PE/VC client base is highly comparable.
• Amrop: Global executive search partnership with strong European footprint and family business heritage. Directly comparable for board, CEO, and succession mandates across continental Europe.

Broad incumbents

• Korn Ferry: Much larger publicly-listed organizational consulting firm combining executive search with RPO, talent assessment, and broad HR consulting. Competes on executive search but is broader in scope, making it a scaled incumbent rather than a pure peer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kienbaum-netherlands

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 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 Kienbaum Netherlands