Executive search for managers in key positions

Kooku X specializes in executives in three areas: Sales (CSO, VP Sales, Head of Sales), Finance (CFO, Controlling, Compliance) and Product & Design (CPO, CDO, Head of Product). Our clients are tech scale-ups, digital companies, PE portfolios and SMEs in Germany. Director Jan Pautsch brings 15 years of experience in the digital industry and 10 years of executive search with more than 500 candidate interviews per year. Since 2014, Kooku has successfully filled over 7,800 positions, a growing proportion of which are in the executive segment. Kooku Recruiting GmbH was awarded top recommendation in the professional search category in the brand eins / Statista ranking "The best personnel consultants of the year" in 2026.

Kooku X completes most mandates in 30 to 45 days - around 40% faster than the industry average for executive search in Germany. The first calibrated profiles are usually available after 72 hours. With rapid feedback, initial offers are possible after just two weeks. Transparent KPI reporting with weekly updates ensures that you can track progress at any time.

Executive search fees are based on the target salary for the position. In Germany, 20-30% of the gross annual salary is customary. Kooku X works on a contingency fee basis - there are no ongoing costs until the position is successfully filled. We clarify your requirements in the initial meeting and prepare a transparent offer. This allows you to plan your budget and minimizes the risk.

If a manager leaves the company within the first three months, we will conduct the search again free of charge. If they leave between the fourth and sixth month, you will receive 50% of the commission paid credited to the next mandate. This minimizes your risk right from the start.

After a 20-minute assessment, we clarify your current situation and realistic goals. We then create a detailed briefing, start the direct approach and deliver the first profiles within 72 hours. Throughout the entire process, you receive weekly KPI updates and transparent reporting on candidates contacted, response rates and interview progress. Kooku X combines an industry network, data-driven assessment and structured interviews for maximum accuracy of fit - both professionally and culturally.

Executive search is suitable for companies of all sizes as soon as management positions need to be filled from director level upwards. In practice, Kooku X works with three typical client profiles in Germany: scale-ups and tech companies with 50 employees or more that are filling C-level roles for the first time; PE portfolio companies that need new finance or sales leadership quickly after acquisitions; and medium-sized companies that need to fill key positions externally for growth or succession. They all have one thing in common: The position is of strategic importance and the candidate market is limited.

Traditional executive search firms work with long exclusive mandates, high retainers and project durations of three to six months. Kooku X combines the quality of a specialized boutique with the speed of a data-driven process: first profiles in 72 hours, completion in 30 to 45 days, around 9/10 fill rate. By specializing in sales, finance and product & design in Germany, we know the relevant candidate market in detail - instead of generalistically covering all sectors. Transparent KPI reporting and a success fee-based model make the process predictable.