HZ Handelszeitung Award 2023 best Executive Search Firm Switzerland

Erik Wirz, from Wirz & Partners, in an interview with Susanne Wagner from Handelszeitung.

Erik Wirz, from Wirz & Partners, in an interview with Susanne Wagner from Handelszeitung.

Many executives are considering changing jobs. However, in order to do so effectively, it requires the persuasive efforts of Executive Search Firms.

"It was a great year," summarizes Erik Wirz, Managing Partner of Wirz & Partners in Zug, the business year 2022. He doesn't have to look far for reasons in the interview: On the one hand, his executive search company was able to achieve more Mandates with many existing customers.

On the other hand, they were increasingly able to fill several positions with one customer. Erik Wirz: "In the last few years, we have had customers who hired more than one person from our shortlist." This was the case when another Leadership Personality could be found among the three to four presented candidates who fit into the team.

"We also saw this with customers from the industry. This phenomenon was otherwise only known to us from the consulting environment," explains Wirz the background of why this development surprised them.

The shortage of executives is hitting with full force, and companies are complaining about not finding suitable people.

Fight for people at the C-level

According to Wirz, the shortage of executives is also related to events in the last year, such as the escalation in Ukraine and the energy issue. Especially between the end of summer and the beginning of October, people were more uncertain because of it. Erik Wirz describes the situation of de facto full employment and relatively low willingness to change as paradoxical:

"In addition, there was a built-up frustration over the last 24 months. People wanted to change, but didn't dare to."

No wonder that the less willing to change executives are courted: by the disproportionate offers of headhunters, but also by their current employer. "I see how companies are fighting for their people at the C-level." He even observes the extreme case that executives have already signed a new employment contract. Then the previous company reacts and tries to lure them with an even better offer - sometimes successfully.