"February has been filled with strong collaboration across our offices and active participation in key industry events. Our Insights articles addressed current leadership challenges, including how technology and electrification are reshaping competition, why many senior leaders do not apply through traditional channels, and how leadership dynamics differ across Central and Eastern Europe. We were pleased to feature Olli Kilpi in our Employee Spotlight. With 25 years of leadership experience across FMCG, retail and the restaurant sector, Olli brings practical operational experience and a clear focus on people and performance.
In India, Dorota Cagiel represented Friisberg at the Economic Times Global Business Summit in Delhi, where discussions highlighted growing international interest in India as a long-term partner. She also attended the HR Conclave organised by the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry, sharing the view that AI should be treated as organisational redesign rather than simply a new tool. In the UK, Andrew Guy attended the Defence and Security Debate hosted by Insider Media, where leaders discussed developments in the defence and security sector". Zoltán Pethõ, Chair Friisberg.
Dorota Cagiel recently represented Friisberg at the The Economic Times Global Business Summit in Delhi, joining business leaders and policymakers from across the globe. Conversations both on stage and between sessions highlighted that there is a clear and growing global interest in India, not just as a market, but as a long-term partner.
Last week, at a very well-attended Defence Sector event near Birmingham organised and hosted by Insider Media, Andrew Guy of Friisberg UK met and mixed with business leaders from across the defence and aerospace supply chain. Andrew, who heads up Friisberg’s Defence Practice Group, and was one of the CBI’s SME Council members at its inception, was delighted to hear from the various representatives of Government at national and regional levels about UKDI’s (UK Defence Innovation) latest initiatives to drive the greater involvement of SMEs in the creation and provision of new technologies. The audience was also briefed on the timely formation of the DOSBG (Defence Office for Small Business Growth).
Most organisations still approach senior hiring as though it operates like every other type of recruitment. A role is defined, an advert goes live, applications arrive, and the strongest candidate is selected. It is neat, logical and familiar, and it is also almost entirely detached from how leadership talent actually moves. The reality is this. Your next CEO, Managing Director or critical functional leader is extremely unlikely to be applying for your role. In most cases, they are not looking at all.
At early and mid-career levels, advertising works because there are a healthy population of active candidates exploring options and responding to outreach. At senior level, the dynamic is fundamentally different. High-performing leaders are typically well compensated, deeply embedded in their organisations, leading major programmes or transformations, and highly visible to competitors. They are not scrolling job boards, they are running businesses.
There is also a human factor that often goes unspoken. By the time someone reaches executive or board level, career decisions stop being about incremental pay or title progression. They become about strategic impact, cultural fit, reputation risk, timing and legacy. Changing roles is a high-stakes decision, not a speculative one, which is why senior leaders rarely respond to generic outreach or public adverts.
Instead, movement happens through trusted conversations, a discreet call, a credible introduction and a thoughtful discussion about purpose and mandate rather than just a job description. In many cases, the opportunity did not exist in their mind until someone they respect made it visible. This is not recruitment marketing. It is advisory engagement.
Read the full article written by Lorri Lowe on our website here: Why the Best Leaders Never Apply - Friisberg & Partners International
This month we launched out ‘In the C-suite’ series where we spoke with a number of professionals that Friisberg has supported throughout their careers. The series shines a light on the different professionals and industries that we work with here at Friisberg. Head to our website to read their full interview: Insights & News - Friisberg & Partners International
We spoke with:
Olli Kilpi joined the Friisberg family in August 2025, bringing with him more than 25 years of leadership experience across FMCG, the restaurant business, and retail. On today’s dynamic leadership landscape: Olli notes that market volatility requires executives who are resilient, agile and empathetic. He says that leaders with a fixed agenda often struggle in environments shaped by rapid change, and that success increasingly depends on adaptability and clarity in communication.
When asked what makes a successful leadership team, Olli emphasises understanding the context, the company’s values, culture and strategic goals. While there isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” quality, he believes attitude stands out - a winning spirit, willingness to challenge oneself and an eagerness to keep learning.
Olli also shared a key tip for executives: at the end of the day, leadership is about people. No matter how strong a product or strategy, organisations cannot succeed without the right team around them - investing in, believing in and developing people is crucial.
Reflecting on his career transition, Olli points to his time at McDonald’s as foundational. He highlights that the company’s focus on people, combining long-tenured talent with fresh perspectives, taught him lots about hiring, developing and leading teams.
Read the full interview here: Employee Spotlight: Olli Kilpi - Friisberg & Partners International
Across CEE, an estimated 60 to 70% of senior leadership appointments are triggered by unplanned events rather than long term planning. Yet almost half of these appointments underperform or fail within 18 to 24 months. In most cases, this is not due to lack of capability, but because decisions are made with incomplete market insight.
Leadership markets in CEE are thin and relationship driven. In many countries, the realistic pool of board ready CEOs or CFOs numbers fewer than 30 to 40 individuals. Market mapping repeatedly shows that the same 10 to 15 profiles circulate across multiple shortlists, reinforcing familiarity while quietly reducing optionality.
The most effective leaders are rarely visible and almost never actively looking. They move quietly, through trust and timing rather than open processes. Without a structured and current view of the market, boards are forced to operate with partial information.
This is where leadership market mapping becomes a strategic discipline rather than a support function. Properly done, it is not about preparing to hire. It is about understanding how leadership power, influence and mobility actually function across a region.
Read the full article written by Nevena Nikolova on our website here: Leadership in CEE: - Friisberg & Partners International
We hope you enjoyed this month's edition of Inside Out.
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We are delighted to feature Managing Consultant Olli Kilpi from our Helsinki office in this edition of Friisberg’s Employee Spotlight series. Olli joined the Friisberg family in August 2025, bringing with him more than 25 years of leadership experience across FMCG, the restaurant business, and retail. With an extensive international background including 15 years living outside Finland, Olli has worked with global brands and played a key role in the internationalization of two Finnish companies.
Prior to joining Friisberg, he served as CEO of a fast-growing Finnish retail company operating in Finland and Germany, and spent 13 years with McDonald’s, most recently as Managing Director for Norway then Sweden. At Friisberg, Olli focuses on senior-level executive searches across organizational functions, with his particular expertise in B2C industries.
I’m a newly appointed Managing Consultant for Friisberg Helsinki, in this role I’m in charge of the strategy and quality of our executive search team - I’m lucky to have a strong team who I am proud to represent.
I really enjoy meeting lots of different talented people and enjoy discussing the challenges and opportunities that companies face. I also enjoy understanding the values and cultures of different companies.
It’s rewarding to talk with talented executives to build an image of what motivates them, what kind of leadership styles and team roles they bring to the table and to identify their particular strengths that can help the companies grow.
One key trend is the tremendous volatility in different markets. This requires new skills from executives: resilience, clarity, ability to lead change, empathy. In particular - in the age of AI, leadership requires boldness to evaluate the impact of modernizing the business model on all levels. This creates uncertainty and even fear in organizations. Visibility and empathy of leadership is needed, as well as clarity of communicating the direction. In many cases, a manager with a ready and fixed agenda is not the ideal candidate. Instead, adaptability and agility are characteristics of a leader that can navigate the best in the era of uncertainty.
I’d like to start by saying, that there’s not really a single winning quality for all purposes. Instead, we must understand the client. What’re the values and culture that exist in the company, and do they want to change the culture to a certain direction? What phase is the company in? Are they looking for a turnaround leader or perhaps someone with a track record of building sustainable growth? What does the team look like, are there particular personality types that are missing in the team that would make the decision making more dynamic and the discussion richer?
Having said that, nothing beats attitude. It is hard to teach a winning spirit and willingness to challenge yourself, constantly learn new things and aim for a higher performance. I always love to see behaviour, which demonstrates a strong winning spirit!
In the end, it is always about the people. You can’t win without the right team around you. No matter how good your product or service is, it is not sustainable without the right people. Invest in them, believe in them and grow with them.
McDonald’s taught me so much that I can use in my current role. The McDonald’s leadership is a beautiful combination of long careers, people that have grown within the company, and new hires, people that bring new ideas and challenge the existing. We used to say that we are in ‘the people business’, the co-operation between the franchisees (and their staff), the corporate employees and the suppliers was the key to success. During my 13 years in the company, I learned a lot about building winning teams, evaluating and hiring talent and developing teamwork. McDonald’s really invests a lot in people. The company also invested in me, and I was privileged to participate in world-class leadership development programs.
The experience that I am most proud of was how we, under my tenure as a Managing Director, together with our franchisees, turned the business around in Norway and created and executed a new strategy that led to a sustainable profitable growth. It would not have been possible without the right people, in all areas of the business, that understood the vision, believed in the strategy and executed with excellence. This required also recruiting new talent. We brought in executives that had the skills and seniority required to lead the change and elevate our standards, but they were also a nice cultural fit. That experience confirmed my belief that winning in the end is all about having the right people around you.
I have a Masters degree from the School of Economics in Helsinki, major in Marketing and minor in Finance. I have also conducted exchange studies at the HEC in Montreal and La Sorbonne in Paris. This has given me a solid base as I grew within the ranks in sales and marketing, 15 years after my graduation I took my first role as a Managing Director of a market. Finally, prior to starting a new career as an executive search consultant, I was Group CEO of a fast growing and internationally operating Finnish company, backed up by Private Equity.
In my opinion, academic learning has of course given me a good theoretical thinking of how to approach different situations. I still regularly quote Philip Kotler. And as I discuss with my son, who is a second-year student at the School of Economics, majoring in Finance and Investment, I notice that I still remember the courses in Economics as well as Finance and these courses have helped me both in my work as a Managing Director, and to a certain extent also in managing my personal finances!
But I mostly value the learning that came throughout my studies. The longer-term learning of how to acquire information, how to process it, analyse it and develop opinions. And how to debate and defend the different perspectives from the data, all to form better conclusions and more mature decisions. This way of being critical to available information, ability to ask questions and process to form opinions was something that I continued to develop seamlessly after graduation at my first employer Procter&Gamble. P&G was an excellent continuation to real life after an academic learning.
On 27th January 2026, the “Mother of all trade deals” was signed between the European Union and India after nearly 20 years of negotiations. Covering a combined market of around two billion people and roughly a quarter of global GDP, it is one of the most significant trade deals of the past decade.
For C-suite leaders, this is not just a geopolitical milestone. It has direct implications for growth strategy, opportunities for talent deployment supply chains, investment decisions and leadership priorities over the coming years. Dorota Cagiel from our New Delhi office explores the significance of this trade deal in the article below.
Executives are currently navigating an era of geopolitical tension and tariff unpredictability; the EU-India pact provides a significant counterweight to existing trade dependencies. This diversification can reduce geopolitical risk exposure and open alternative channels for growth.
At its core, the agreement significantly lowers barriers to trade on both sides. Most EU exports to India will see tariffs sharply reduced or eliminated over time, while the EU will also cut duties on the majority of Indian exports, supporting two-way trade in manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, consumer goods, and more.
Another area of positive development in the EU - India FTA is that it contains provisions regarding the relevant UN and ILO conventions advancing women’s economic empowerment and gender equality, including promoting cooperation in international force to advance these objectives.
For the C-suite leader, global operations must be reassessed and India’s role in European-led value chains must be re-evaluated. Leaders must consider integrating tariff reductions into pricing and commercial strategies, strengthen regulatory and compliance capabilities, and invest in local partnerships to accelerate market entry and execution.
Looking ahead, timing and governance remain important. Implementation will be phased and still requires approvals, with some sensitive sectors still protected and global trade tensions continuing to influence competitiveness. Even so, the deal represents a structural shift in EU–India economic relations, and early movers will be best positioned to translate policy change into lasting advantage.
Hosszú, 25 évnyi közös út után Németh Árpád ügyvezető partnerünk baráti és kölcsönös megegyezéssel lemond ügyvezető pozíciójáról és távozik a cégtől.
A vállalatot továbbra is Pethő Zoltán és Zalai Márton alapító partnerek viszik a megszokott lendülettel, energiákkal és stratégiai fókusszal, míg az operatív feladatokat Kádár Zoltán kollégánk veszi át.
Szívből köszönjük Árpi az elmúlt negyed évszázadnyi nagyszerű közös munkát, élményeket és sikereket.
Sok szerencsét és örömöt kívánunk neki a szakmai és személyes terveiben!
Köszönjük, hogy velünk vagytok ezen az izgalmas úton továbbra is!
We would like to share an important piece of news from the life of the Friisberg family.
After a long and successful journey of 25 years together, our Managing Partner Árpád Németh has decided to step down from his executive role and leave the firm, in a spirit of mutual respect and friendship.
The company will continue to be led with the same energy, momentum and strategic focus by our founding partners Zoltán Pethő and Márton Zalai, while Zoltán Kádár will take over the operational responsibilities.
We would like to express our heartfelt thanks to Árpi for the wonderful collaboration, shared experiences and successes over the past quarter of a century.
We wish him every success and happiness in his future professional and personal endeavours!
A new chapter begins with the arrival of Regine Krummenacker as a Researcher in our Paris office.
With an impressive background at Korn Ferry and Transearch since 2010, Régine has built her expertise in direct search and executive recruitment across national and international markets.
Her deep knowledge of industries such as automotive, agri-food, pharmaceuticals, energy, electronics, retail, IT, and construction enables her to navigate complex and strategic recruitment challenges with agility and precision.
What sets Régine apart? Her ability to create meaningful connections, her sharp intuition, and her genuine commitment to adding value for both clients and candidates. With strong human values at the core of her approach, she brings sense and impact to every assignment.
Her arrival is perfectly aligned with our ambition to keep growing and delivering excellence in France and globally.
We’re excited to write this new chapter together and we are thrilled to have you as part of our team in France!
Friisberg & Partners International is proud to announce that our Hungary office has secured second place in the Budapest Business Journal's ranking of top Executive Search firms.
This outstanding achievement is a testament to the dedication, expertise, and hard work of our exceptional team in Hungary, whose deep market knowledge and client-focused approach set us apart in a highly competitive industry.
At Friisberg, we take immense pride in the outstanding professionals who represent our firm. Their deep market knowledge, commitment to innovation, and client-first approach continue to set us apart. This achievement reflects not only their hard work but also the trust and confidence placed in us by our clients and candidates.
We understand that our clients are discerning, making thoughtful decisions about who they trust with their Search and Organisational Development needs. That’s why our team in Hungary consistently delivers innovative, tailored solutions that create real value for both clients and candidates.
Our commitment remains the same across all markets: to drive success for our clients and ensure an outstanding candidate experience.
To our team in Hungary: thank you for your unwavering dedication. Your success is well deserved, and we look forward to seeing you reach even greater heights.
Congratulations for this well-earned recognition!
We are delighted to announce that Alex Wenyon has joined our London office as a Consultant. Alex brings an impressive background of professional excellence and personal achievement, with a career spanning roles in public relations and marketing for iconic global brands such as Nissan and Harley-Davidson.
In addition to her professional expertise, Alex is a celebrated cox for the GB and Australian Paralympic Rowing teams and has achieved the prestigious distinction of winning at Henley Royal Regatta. Her dedication, leadership, and strategic mindset, honed both in corporate boardrooms and on the water, exemplify the qualities that make her a valuable addition to Friisberg.
“We are thrilled to welcome Alex to the Friisberg team,” said Zoltan Petho, Chair of Friisberg. “Her experience with globally renowned brands, combined with her competitive spirit and commitment to excellence, will bring a unique perspective to our clients.”
As a Consultant at Friisberg, Alex will support organisations across a variety of industries, leveraging her expertise in branding, stakeholder engagement, and strategic transformation to deliver tailored solutions that address their most pressing challenges.
“I am incredibly excited to join Friisberg and bring my passion for strategy, leadership, and teamwork to this global consultancy,” said Alex Wenyon. “My experiences in both the corporate and sporting worlds have taught me the importance of focus, collaboration, and adaptability - qualities I look forward to applying in this new role.”
Alex’s appointment reflects Friisberg’s commitment to attracting exceptional talent and delivering innovative, high-impact consultancy services to clients across the globe.
Natalia Kadia is a distinguished expert in neuromanagement, certified by the NeuroLeadership Institute in New York. She is a seasoned consultant specializing in organizational development, leadership, and human resources management, and she serves as a board member at the Centre for Social Change and Behavioural Economics.
With over a decade of experience, Natalia has successfully applied behavioural change strategies to enhance performance in both business and public organizations. Her work empowers leaders to unlock their leadership potential through evidence-based Neuromanagement methodologies. In her role as a lecturer at the Lviv Business School of UCU (LVBS), mentor, and certified coach from Erickson University International (ICF), Natalia guides leaders to improve their decision-making and build emotional intelligence using cutting-edge educational tools and coaching practices.
Beyond her consulting and teaching commitments, Natalia is a frequent media expert for the national 1+1 television channel, sharing her insights on leadership and organizational behavior.
We are delighted that Natalia is joining Friisberg in our Kyiv office. Her arrival marks an exciting chapter for our team, as her extensive expertise and innovative approach will further strengthen our consulting services and provide invaluable insights to our clients.
Natalia’s experience in driving behavioural change and developing leadership excellence aligns seamlessly with Friisberg’s commitment to empowering organizations and leaders.
Zoltan Petho, Chair of Friisberg said,
“We are thrilled to welcome Natalia Kadia to Friisberg. Her proven track record in neuromanagement and leadership development makes her an outstanding addition to our Kyiv team. Natalia’s deep understanding of organizational dynamics and her innovative methodologies will undoubtedly inspire growth and success for both our clients and our consultants. We look forward to the positive impact she will bring as we continue to support leaders and organizations in achieving their full potential.”
Friisberg is confident that her contributions will elevate our capabilities and reinforce our presence in the region.
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Sabine Pirkner to our Executive Board. In her new role, Sabine will be responsible for leading and shaping our Business Development strategy, furthering our growth and market expansion goals.
Sabine brings a wealth of experience to the role. With a proven track record of driving innovation, strategic partnerships, and sustainable growth, Sabine is poised to strengthen our position in the marketplace.
“We are delighted to have Sabine on our executive team,” said Zoltan Petho, Chair of Friisberg, “Her deep expertise in business development and her visionary leadership will be instrumental in helping us navigate new growth opportunities and achieve our long-term strategic goals.”
Sabine’s appointment comes as Friisberg continues to build on its legacy of success, which has been driven by the guidance and vision of its accomplished Executive Board. Under this leadership Friisberg has achieved sustained growth, solidifying its reputation as a leader in the Management Consultancy & Executive Search industry. Their strategic approach has seen the company expand its global footprint, deliver unparalleled client service, and attract top-tier talent for clients across multiple sectors.
“I am excited to join the talented Executive Board and take on this new role," said Sabine. "I look forward to contributing to Friisberg's continued success and helping to shape its future by building strong partnerships and driving innovative growth strategies.
"In my role, my focus is on bringing together the deep expertise we have in certain countries and, based on that, formulating an overarching strategy that better reflects our years of experience across various industries. Together, it's about defining strategic initiatives and directions that will strengthen and expand our growth and presence.
"The aim is to reassess the strategic directions for individual markets, while also taking into account industry trends and developments. I believe that by combining all our experiences, we can become even stronger together and gradually build up our presence step by step."
As one of the oldest Search firms in Europe, Friisberg's innovative approach and dedication to client success continue to set it apart in a competitive marketplace.
Friisberg is proud to announce that Maarten van de Sande has been appointed to our Executive team. In this pivotal role, Maarten will spearhead our global expansion and drive the growth of our firm on an international scale.
Maarten brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in business development and strategic growth. His expertise will be instrumental as we continue to expand our footprint across new markets and strengthen our presence in existing ones. His appointment aligns perfectly with our vision to enhance our global capabilities and deliver unparalleled value to our clients around the world.
Throughout his career, Maarten has demonstrated exceptional leadership and a deep understanding of the dynamics of global markets. His strategic insights and innovative approach are exactly what Friisberg needs as we embark on this next phase of growth. We are confident that Maarten will be a driving force in our mission to build and nurture strong, long-term relationships with clients and partners across the globe.
As we welcome Maarten to our executive team, we look forward to the exciting opportunities and achievements that lie ahead. His leadership will be crucial in navigating the complexities of international markets and ensuring that Friisberg continues to lead with excellence and integrity.
We are excited about the future and confident that, with Maarten's energy behind our global expansion efforts, Friisberg will continue its remarkable success.
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