Julian Maly and Wolfgang Hank, senior consultants at fortalent

Reference projects for these companies

Selected success stories

Succession for a long-serving CTO in a technical niche segment

Client

Successor entrepreneur
Technical services for high-tech industries
Munich, Germany

Objective

Succession for a long-standing CTO following a company acquisition, balancing continuity with fresh impetus for change.

Approach

Profile workshop with skill mapping and definition of the relevant industry backgrounds; headhunting and management audits focused on leadership in times of change.

Outcome

A compelling Shortlist and a tight process involving several stakeholders, assessing technical expertise, leadership and long-term commitment.

Executive Search for a Chief Financial Officer at a family office portfolio company

Client

UBO & management of a family office
Portfolio company
Frankfurt, Vienna, Zurich

Objective

Appointment of a Chief Financial Officer at a strategically important portfolio company in the owners' interests, with a strong focus on management audits.

Approach

Role-profile workshop with several stakeholders, direct approach and Shortlist preparation, guidance throughout the selection process and contract negotiations.

Outcome

Appointment of an ideal candidate with a relevant industry background, extensive experience and the right personality for working directly with investors.

Personnel search and selection for key positions at a tech scale-up

Client

CEO & co-founder
PropTech scale-up (55 > 120 employees)
DACH region

Objective

Supporting growth from 55 to 120 employees after a Series B funding round, including the creation of new roles and the professionalisation of recruiting.

Approach

Detailed briefing by the founders, investors and CEO; drafting and aligning job descriptions; headhunting and selection process; guidance on the hiring decisions.

Outcome

Lasting appointments to several key positions reporting directly to the CEO within 8 weeks of project start – a tangible contribution during a very intense growth phase.

Strategic recruiting & advisory for a long-established media group

Client

Management
Media group (200 employees)
Vienna, Austria

Objective

Supporting the transformation of the entire organisation from a traditional media house into an innovative media & information provider (over 8 years).

Approach

Organisational and team analysis, competency mapping, structural adjustments, hiring of external leaders and top talent. Support in establishing modern recruiting processes and selection methods.

Outcome

Cultural change through modernised ways of working and collaboration, the onboarding of external change agents and a higher-performing workforce.

Public-sector appointment procedure for the managing director of a state-owned company

Client

Supervisory board
State-owned company
Vienna, Austria

Objective

Design and execution of a legally compliant appointment procedure, including a structured, objective external selection process and support with the hearing.

Approach

Requirements profile based on corporate objectives, management of the job advertisement, individual assessments, shortlisting, hearing and ranking.

Outcome

An appointment decision that meets legal requirements, business needs and the employer brand alike – thanks to a professional procedure and meticulous candidate management.

Headhunting for a key position at a family business in a rural region

Client

Owner
Manufacturing company
Rural region, Austria

Objective

External appointment to a key role in strategic procurement, with a clear focus on fit with the structures of a mid-sized family business.

Approach

Support in designing the requirements profile, drafting a market-appropriate job description, direct approach and guidance on the final decision.

Outcome

Hiring of an ideal candidate with a corporate background and the ambition and personality to make a lasting mark in a smaller, close-knit organisation.

Direct approach for a specialist position at an SME

Client

Management & division head
Infrastructure services company
Peripheral region, Austria

Objective

Covering the entire market and winning over a narrow candidate pool for an attractive role with real prospects at an owner-managed SME.

Approach

Complete market mapping and target listing (including off-limits), and a personal approach to potential candidates. "Selling" the opportunity while evaluating genuine long-term fit.

Outcome

Signing of a strong candidate with the relevant experience who was open to a new challenge. Close guidance through to closing.

Personnel search for the first sales manager of a SaaS start-up

Client

Founder
Software / SaaS
Berlin, DACH

Objective

Hiring the first salesperson for a SaaS start-up in the DACH region during its pre-launch phase, with an emphasis on mid-market experience.

Approach

Developing the job scope and candidate persona from scratch, benchmarking terms and salary components, headhunting and a tight selection process.

Outcome

Hiring of a candidate with a strong background in both start-ups and scale-ups who, as a self-starter, brings the necessary go-to-market know-how. The founding team was closely involved to gain a reliable overview of the market.