W Executive España

What W Executive España does

W Executive España S.L. is a Spain-based executive search and HR consulting firm founded in 2023 and operating as the Spanish arm of the international W-Group, which is backed by private equity investor ProA Capital and generates over €825 million in group turnover across Spain, Italy, France, the UK and Switzerland. The Spanish entity employs 79 people across five offices (Madrid headquarters, plus Barcelona, Valencia, Málaga and Seville) and is organized around a flagship W Executive brand for C-level and senior management searches, supported by three sub-brands: W Hunt (middle-upper management placements), W Advisory (HR analysis for corporates and investment funds using proprietary data tools), and W Red Lion Packaging (sector-specialized executive search for the packaging industry). The firm serves large enterprises, investment funds/PE, and mid-market companies across industries including Finance, IT, Energy, Healthcare, FMCG, Industrial, Retail, Logistics and Life Sciences.

The company's service offering is differentiated by three proprietary analytical instruments embedded into its search methodology: People Analytics (co-developed with technology partner Rate & Grade, providing real-time data models for employee experience and talent evaluation), the W Leadership Index (a scientific leadership-competency model supervised by SDA Bocconi's Laura Baruffaldi, used as the basis for Leadership Due Diligence and 360° analyses), and the W Digital Index (a framework assessing candidates' digital and innovation openness, used as the basis for Digital Due Diligence). The firm distributes content through LinkedIn, the 'Ecos de Liderazgo' podcast on YouTube and Spotify, and the Observatorio W content hub, and operates a sales-led, direct-engagement model with no self-service or marketplace channels.

Revenue is generated through professional services fees on bespoke, quote-based engagements with no publicly disclosed pricing tiers; pricing is determined per engagement based on role seniority, industry and geographic scope. The founding team — led by CEO Manuel Soriano and seven equity partners drawn from PageGroup, Michael Page, Robert Walters, Mercer, Aon, PwC, Hays, IHR Consultancy and others — provides the relationship and candidate-network assets underlying the business. No funding rounds, M&A activity, or standalone revenue figures are publicly disclosed.

Name

W Executive España

Legal name

W Executive España S.L.

Website

https://wexecutive.es

Company type

Private

Founded year

2023

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

W Executive España is a Spain-based executive search and HR consulting firm (founded 2023) operating under W-Group/ProA Capital, with 79 employees across five cities and proprietary assessment tools (People Analytics, W Leadership Index, W Digital Index) serving enterprises, investment funds and mid-market clients across multiple industries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Executive Search & Headhunting Services

NAICS

Executive Search Services (561312), Employment Placement Agencies (561311), Management Consulting Services (54161), Employment Placement Agencies and Executive Search Services (56131)

SIC

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

akta.pro primary industry

C-Suite & Board Search (BPACAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Functional Leadership Search (HR/Finance/Legal/Marketing/Sales/Ops) (BPACAAAB), Technology & Product Leadership Search (CIO/CTO/CDO/CPO) (BPACAAAC), Executive & Leadership Direct Hire (BPACAFAB)

Keywords

• Executive search services
• Headhunting services
• HR consulting
• Leadership assessment
• Talent acquisition

Headquarters

HQ city

Madrid

HQ country

Spain

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

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 & Consulting Services: W Executive provides tailored executive search and HR consulting services to companies and investment funds. The firm connects companies with executive talent through a personalized, data-driven approach. Revenue is generated through professional services fees tied to successful placements and ongoing consulting engagements. The firm operates B2B, serving enterprise and mid-market clients in Spain with international project capabilities.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

W Executive España is a headhunting and executive search firm that identifies, attracts, and places C-level, senior management, and mid-upper management talent for enterprises, investment funds, and mid-market companies across Spain. The firm augments traditional executive search with proprietary data-driven assessment tools (W Leadership Index, W Digital Index, and People Analytics) to deliver measurable leadership diagnostics, HR analysis, and post-hire integration monitoring. Services are delivered through four sub-brands covering executive search (W Executive), middle-management recruitment (W Hunt), HR advisory (W Advisory), and packaging-industry specialization (W Red Lion Packaging).

Product overview

W Executive España operates as a headhunting and HR consulting firm organized under the W-Group international umbrella. The portfolio consists of the flagship W Executive brand (Executive Search & Consulting), the sub-brand W Hunt (middle-upper management recruitment), W Advisory (HR analysis with proprietary data tools), and W Red Lion Packaging (specialized packaging industry search). The offering is complemented by three proprietary technology tools — People Analytics (developed with partner Rate & Grade), W Leadership Index, and W Digital Index — which are embedded into the search and consulting methodology to deliver data-driven, tailored talent solutions across multiple industries and functions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• W Hunt: Search and selection of middle-upper management professionals that create dynamic opportunities.
• W Advisory
• W Red Lion (Red Lion Packaging)

Products and services

• W Executive Search & Consulting The flagship offering providing personalized, data-driven executive search and HR consulting services in Spain for C-level and executive positions across multiple industries without regional restrictions.
• W Hunt Sub-brand specializing in the search and selection of middle-upper management professionals across functions including Finance, HR, Legal, Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Technology, creating dynamic opportunities through position-based specialization without geographical restrictions.
• W Advisory Sub-brand supporting companies and investment funds with human resources analysis using proprietary data-driven tools, including leadership due diligence, management appraisal, 360-degree analysis, and HR advisory work plans.
• W Red Lion (Red Lion Packaging) Specialized executive search and selection for the packaging industry covering converters, end clients, machinery manufacturers, and raw material suppliers globally across Europe, USA, LatAm, UK, Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Services include Executive Search, Top Global Candidate Community, and Assessment Center.
• People Analytics (powered by Rate & Grade) Proprietary HR analytics tool developed in partnership with Rate & Grade that provides global talent and HR solutions through high-level consulting, combining the tool with real-time data models for employee experience, evaluation, and talent development.
• W Leadership Index Proprietary scientific model created by the founding partners under the supervision of Laura Baruffaldi (SDA Bocconi) that measures the level of leadership of professionals by analyzing their competencies. Serves as the starting point for Leadership Due Diligence (LDD), management appraisal, 360-degree analysis, and candidate evaluation.
• W Digital Index Proprietary tool that evaluates a professional's openness towards innovation and digital skills during the selection phase. Serves as the starting point for Digital Due Diligence (DDD) work plans analyzing the digital positioning of a team or organization.

Quantifiable outcome

• One-year post-hiring follow-up with both company and candidate to ensure successful integration and long-term fit.
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 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

Integration2 records

AI capability4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, minor and core.

• LinkedIn SpainflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 3 December 2024W Executive co-hosts an exclusive executive talent event with LinkedIn Spain at LinkedIn's Madrid offices, designed for CEOs, CFOs, and senior executives. The event focuses on strategic trends in executive talent markets, the evolution of skills-first hiring, and personal branding on the platform. The collaboration provides W Executive access to LinkedIn's executive audience and positions the firm as a thought leader.
• CAIA IberiaminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 29 February 2024W Executive participated in CAIA Iberia's 'An Evening with Headhunters' networking event in Madrid, engaging with alternative investment professionals. The event featured a roundtable discussion on future trends shaping the alternative investments profession and provided networking opportunities between headhunters and CAIA members.
• Rate & GradecoreTechnology or IntegrationRate & Grade is W Executive's technological partner for data management, powering the People Analytics tool used for employee experience diagnosis, talent evaluation, and development planning. The integration enables real-time, objective data analysis to support HR consulting engagements and executive selection processes.
• Laura Baruffaldi (SDA Bocconi)coreOthersLaura Baruffaldi, Professor of Leadership and Organization at SDA Bocconi School of Management, supervised the development of W Executive's proprietary W Leadership Index tool, lending academic credibility and ensuring the scientific rigor of the leadership measurement model.
• WomenTech NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerW Executive has an alliance with WomenTech Network as part of its commitment to gender equality and diversity in talent sourcing. This partnership supports the firm's stated goal of promoting equality policies and pioneering initiatives in the executive search sector.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Spencer Stuart: Leading global executive search and leadership advisory firm serving boards and CEOs. Competes at the top of the executive search pyramid where W Executive also targets C-suite placements, with broader global reach.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm combining executive search with talent assessment and leadership development. Competes with both W Executive search and W Advisory consulting offerings through an integrated platform.
• Heidrick & Struggles: Global leadership advisory firm specializing in executive search, leadership assessment, and culture shaping. Competes with W Executive for senior C-suite mandates in Spain and internationally through its broader advisory portfolio.
• Egon Zehnder: Global leadership advisory and executive search firm with a strong European and Iberian presence. Competes with W Executive on senior executive placements and leadership advisory, with deeper brand recognition in board-level searches.

Direct peers

• PageGroup: Global parent of Michael Page, Page Personnel, and other recruitment brands operating in Spain. Competes across executive search and middle management, the same segments W Executive targets with its W Executive and W Hunt brands.
• Boyden: Global executive search firm with a partnership model similar to W Executive's equity-partner structure and presence across multiple geographies. Targets senior leadership mandates for enterprises and PE portfolio companies comparable to W Executive's core focus.
• Claire Joster (Eurofirms Group): Spanish executive search and headhunting firm under Eurofirms Group, focusing on middle and senior management roles. W Executive partners Manuel Soriano and Jaime Delgado previously held MD positions at Eurofirms/Claire Joster, making it a direct domestic competitor.
• Robert Walters: Specialist professional recruitment firm with established Madrid and Barcelona offices focused on mid-to-senior management. Santiago Cuerpo and W Executive partners previously led Robert Walters divisions in Spain, making it a direct comparator for executive search services.
• Hays: International recruitment group with significant Spanish operations covering executive, professional, and interim placements. Competes head-to-head with W Executive for mid-upper management and executive roles; W Executive partner José Antonio Ortega previously led Hays Executive in Spain.
• Michael Page: Global executive search and recruitment firm with a deep Spanish presence serving enterprise and mid-market clients across functions. Directly competes with W Executive in C-level and middle-management search; multiple W Executive partners previously held senior roles there.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@WExecutiveEspana
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wexecutive-espana

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries3 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 W Executive España