Kontrast Personalberatung GmbH - ISO 9001:2015 certified since 1993. Discreet 1:1 direct approach for C-level & management in the D.A.CH region and Europe. Permanently employed headhunters with management and psychological expertise - executive search plus suitability diagnostic quality assurance.
Why Kontrast for your CEO search?
We fill top roles when it comes to succession planning, growth scaling, digitalization/transformation or PMI. The decisive factor is not the most attractive CV, but the leadership personality who really implements your strategy - measurably, low-risk, documented.
Typical mandates: CEO / Managing Director (single/double leadership), general management (COO, CCO, CDO, CFO), executive management for SMEs, PE portfolios and public companies/owned companies.
Sector focus: medium-sized companies D.A.CH., public sector & own companies, industry & technology, construction & infrastructure, digital & software/IT, healthcare & MedTech, service industry, research & education.
Service package: Headhunting & active sourcing
We recruit CEO and management personalities through discreet 1:1 direct contact and consistent active sourcing. Based on a clear search profile, we map the target market and target companies, draw up target, long and short lists and activate established D.A.CH networks - including in SMEs, the public sector and its own companies.
We conduct structured executive interviews, check cultural fit and motivation for change, manage coordination with the executive board, supervisory board or board of directors and accompany the offer and contract. Onboarding check-ins (30/90/180) ensure effectiveness. All steps are ISO 9001-compliant and GDPR and AGG-compliant.
Service package: full-service application management & assessment
We take care of all application and communication management - responsively and in compliance with data protection regulations. Incoming applications are qualified, documents checked for plausibility, profiles checked against must/can criteria and prepared for decision-making bodies. We coordinate appointments with the board/AR as well as sending cases and documenting the candidate journey.
For quality assurance purposes, we carry out structured screenings as well as reference and reputation checks (AGG-compliant) and summarize the results in scorecards, protocols and a decision memorandum. This creates a reliable, comparable basis - also for public clients with formal verification obligations.
Service package: Selection process & AC
We design and moderate selection procedures for C-level and management - from structured executive interviews based on our competence profiling to assessment modules such as business cases, strategy/change cases, stakeholder dialog and presentations. In this way, impact, judgment and leadership style become visible in a reality check.
For a legally compliant selection of the best candidates, we provide an observer manual and evaluation matrix, document decisions and, if required, supplement management audits and psychometric procedures. We deliver results as a committee template including risk/fit analysis - compatible with Art. 33 II GG, GDPR and AGG, especially for public clients.
How we fill your CEO role - in 7 steps
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Kick-off & search profile - strategy, value creation plan, must/no-go, EVP
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Target market & target list - competitors, neighboring industries, PE/portfolio
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Direct approach - discreet, personal, multiple channels
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Executive interviews - situations critical to success, leadership & impact
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Suitability diagnostics - competence/potential check, culture fit
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Shortlist & board interviews - structured comparison, scorecards, case
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Offer & onboarding - negotiation, start planning, 30/90/180 support
Transparency: regular reporting on pipeline, response rates and market signals, direct access to project status.
Candidate pool & market access
Established C-level networks and general management talent pools in the D.A.CH region, supplemented by research, recommendations, alumni networks and discreet direct approach. Confidential approach even for ongoing employment relationships. Diversity by design: qualification-based selection, active approach to female and diverse executives.
Quality & compliance
ISO 9001:2015 - audited processes in search & selection. GDPR/AGG-compliant - legally compliant communication & documentation. Documented selection of the best candidates - scorecards, interview guidelines, decision memo. Optional: reference/background checks (AGG-compliant), media/reputation screening.
Do you also work for public companies/own companies?
Ja. Wir berücksichtigen die Anforderungen des öffentlichen Sektors – inkl. Bestenauswahl nach Art. 33 II GG, AGG- und DSGVO-konformer Dokumentation.
Do you work internationally?
D.A.CH-Fokus mit europäischem Zugang; internationale Profile werden routiniert angesprochen.
Does FüPoG II apply to our company - and what does this mean for the CEO search?
FüPoG II greift bei bestimmten, z. B. börsennotierten und/oder mitbestimmten Unternehmen. Wenn Sie darunter fallen, berücksichtigen wir Mindestvorgaben/Zielgrößen und gestalten Profil, Suche und Auswahl so, dass Gleichstellungsziele und Bestenauswahl zusammenpassen.
How do you combine FüPoG II targets with the performance principle (selection of the best)?
Wir definieren geschlechtsneutrale Muss-/Kann-Kriterien, nutzen strukturierte Interviews, Scorecards und dokumentierte Bewertungen. So bleibt die Bestenauslese nach Eignung, Befähigung, fachlicher Leistung gesichert – bei gleichzeitiger aktiver Ansprache unterrepräsentierter Gruppen.
How do you avoid bias in the selection process?
Durch geschlechtsneutrale Anforderungsprofile, strukturierte Bewertungsraster, Doppel-Scoring (Vier-Augen-Prinzip), konsistente Interviewleitfäden und dokumentierte Entscheidungswege. Optional: anonymisierte Kurzprofile in der Frühphase.
How do you ensure diversity goals in the search?
Durch aktive Direktansprache in passenden Netzwerken, inkl. weiblicher und diverser Executives in der D.A.CH-Region, ohne Quoten-Automatik in der Auswahl. Maßstab der Entscheidung bleibt die Bestenauslese.