HAPEKO
Executive Search for Private Equity & SME Investment Portfolios

In the enterprise world, Germany is best known for its vibrant SME sector, and the section of businesses is often described as the Hidden Champions division. This has created a favorable market for investors to invest in expanding these enterprises. However, the growth of these firms is being stifled due to the persistent shortage of skilled executive for their portfolio firms with both market experience and regional network. This challenge is especially critical for international investment firms. In such challenging times, investment managers should consider partnering with a local executive consultancy with a broad SME candidate network to identify and recruit the right personnel which can enable them to scale within the enterprise market.

“We have supported numerous institutional investors in hiring the right personnel to scale up their businesses. Predominately on the C-Level but also on the middle management level,” says Dr Jochen Becker, CFA, senior executive consultant at HAPEKO.

As an HR consultancy operating for over 20 years for influential German SME, HAPEKO is the perfect partner to help enterprises find and hire crucial executives and specialists in repositioning and scaling their operations. With more than 20 locations across Germany, HAPEKO has established one of the largest candidate networks spanning multiple industries with a special focus on the productive industry and the machinery & equipment suppliers.

“We have a notable recruitment team and assist the international investment community to get an entrée to the leadership personality in German SME space,” says Dr Becker. To initiate an executive search project for a client, HAPEKO arranges a meeting to not only comprehend the type of personnel required. Dr Becker and his team closely work with the investment team to understand the investment case. “For us, the investment case is an essential part of the briefing. We need to understand, which executive personality best fits to the PE and its strategy; both in respect to personality and industry network.”

Having been a portfolio manager on the buy-side for many, Dr Becker knows about the value-creating factor of the right leadership team for a company. “It’s not sufficient to find a person who can just do the job. Mostly it’s important to find an inspirable team captain who lays out the perfect match plan, rolls up the sleeves and get things done.”

A distinguishing feature of HAPEKO is the unique multi-layer staffing search options clients can utilize. While most Executive Search firms restrict themselves on C-Level positions, HAPEKO assists clients in recruiting on the professional level. “Our intention is to make our clients successful by all means. Leaving an executive alone with the challenge to recruit his/her team would be half-hearted,” Dr Becker adds. “We stay on our client’s side, create the basis and celebrate success at the end”.

Ultimately, by collaborating with HAPEKO, businesses can tap into this vast talent pool to find the right personnel to help them thrive in the German market. A database of several hundred thousand individuals, categorized according to their proficiency and skillset in various aspects of a specific occupational role simplifies the selection of the most suitable candidate for a leadership or professional position. Additionally, HAPEKO employees are experienced recruiters for active sourcing and classical headhunting.