Insights

Joining a Storm-hit Crew - Tips for Managing the Executive's Onboarding

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:24:02 Z

Surprising though it may seem at the current time, senior executives are continuing to accept job offers, and are getting to sit in their new chairs for the first time. This said, they’re more likely to be occupying their old chairs at home, preparing meals and homeschooling the kids.

If you are a senior executive stepping into your new organization, or if a senior executive is joining your crew right now, how can the journey be managed given these turbulent circumstances?

Digitization on Boards 2nd Edition | Are Boards Ready For Digital Disruption?

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:17:23 Z

The pressures surrounding digital disruption and security are intensifying. And the digitization debate is gathering pace. Yet when it comes to exactly how organizations are addressing digitization, the picture remains fragmented and multiple questions surround its role.

To what extent is digital an agent of change for your organization? Should you continue with business as usual? Or deliberately engineer digital into specific parts of your supply chain? Should digitization have a higher purpose, to drive innovation or even transform your business model?

Crucially, to what extent is your Board equipped to ask the right questions, and implement the answers in the right place, at the right time

3D Printing: Is Germany in Need of a Re-boot?

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 12:10:54 Z

Despite Germany’s pioneering role in developing 3D additive production techniques, and their adoption by the country’s larger players, top management in many of the companies who supply those organizations is still concerned about the risks associated with these new technologies. They are potentially losing sight of major opportunities to earn money and secure competitiveness for the future.

In this article, Ulrich Beckendorff, Managing Partner in Amrop’s Düsseldorf office and member of Amrop’s Global Industrial Practice takes a look at the opportunities of 3D additive production, and makes the case for re-booting Germany’s leadership in the domain.

Personal Governance 6: Personal Development

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:56:33 Z

Good Personal Governance incites lifelong personal development, or éducation permanente. This is a dynamic journey, linked to our personality development, aptitude for reflection, coping strategies, the way we communicate and interact, our ethics - and beyond. And managers must be shining examples.

As an executive search consultant and management coach, Amrop's Fredy Hausammann sees senior managers mainly emphasizing professional experience as a way to round out academic foundations, supplemented at best by a short-lived executive development program. When it comes to holistic development, this is not enough.

Personal Governance 2: Life Plan and Goals

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:49:01 Z

Just as a well-run organization has a guiding Mission, so do managers with good Personal Governance. This ‘Life Plan’ is an ongoing project, far-reaching and carefully orchestrated. It serves as a common thread, a ‘leitmotiv’, to guide, motivate and inspire executives through uncertainty and change, success and opportunity. As a personal, core Mission, its translation into action needs regular monitoring.

Make or Break - Why Transition Coaching is Critical for Incoming Executives

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:42:44 Z

The adaptation of a senior executive to a new job is a critical period. Expectations are being born, relationships established and trust must be swiftly built in circumstances that are unfamiliar and stressful, where tension is high and there is a perceived need for immediate results.

Whether you are a senior executive facing your first months in a critical role, or a key internal stakeholder in an incoming leader's transition process, Amrop invites you to explore the emotional landscape facing every new entrant, and discover some keys to its successful navigation.

Leadership and the Brain II: A New Tool for Agility

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:37:18 Z

In this second article in our series 'Leadership and the Brain', Amrop guest writer, neuroscientist Dr. Tara Swart, introduces her new tool for Leadership Agility. As the demands upon leaders reach dizzying levels, this science-based, compelling and simple platform will help senior executives understand and enhance their performance - and that of their entourage.

From Disruption to Daylight: How leaders are travelling the digital change curve

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:30:51 Z

The journey to digital, from the way you’ve always worked, to the way everyone else is beginning to work, can be viscerally shocking. The digital path leads senior executives through denial, anger, bargaining, depression, to acceptance.

Mobile Payments - New Market, New Leaders

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 11:10:35 Z

The concept of MP is high on the corporate strategic agenda, impacting people’s daily lives. Individuals and organizations able to surf the waves of change are members of a privileged generation. MP is a booming business. Already in 2013, Gartner had predicted that the value of worldwide MP transactions would reach a 44 percent increase over 2012.

Amrop interviewed 12 top managers in the field.

Governance For What’s Next 1: The Great Reset

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 10:37:56 Z

The geopolitical risks are piling up: the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict has required production to be diverted, nearshored and secured (even as the sustainability of supply chains is under scrutiny). A trade war is beckoning. New conflict in the Middle East. In a literal and metaphorical sense, the planet’s temperature is rising.

Meanwhile existing undercurrents persist: global markets have been shifting for some time. Legacy economies such as Germany and the UK are stagnating. The US may be entering a recession. China and Japan have lost their earlier momentum. And AI is compounding the insecurity, its outlines obscured by dense fog.

As if these pressures on boards were not enough, share- and stakeholders are scrutinizing their performance, particularly regarding return on investment, ethics, risk management and sustainability. No question, boards are living in ‘interesting times’.

In this series, Amrop's Board Services Practice delivers insights from the frontlines of boardrooms. How are boards creating clarity today? And where do their priorities lie, given a crowded and restless agenda?

From Tension to Transformation | How Wise Decision-Makers Transcend Paradoxes

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:45:52 Z

From the 2008 financial crisis, to the tsunamis of digitization and machine learning and Covid-19, life for leaders has never been more complex. Contradictions and tensions are multiplying by the day. Can we solve them? A large body of research suggests that we can: by managing paradoxes through wise decision-making.

Times of crisis present executives with a particularly painful paradox: meeting shareholder expectations, ‘versus’ preserving jobs. Covid-19 has created an even more difficult choice. Should all companies be saved at all costs? And how do we preserve the financial interests of investors, whilst limiting unemployment and supplier bankruptcies?

As Amrop global board member Andrew Woodburn told South Africa's Money Show in the early days of the pandemic outbreak: "This is no longer about profit. Every single leader I've spoken to is about: how can I protect my people? How can I guarantee them some sort of existence going forward? How can I ensure that this business is going to be here, when we all go back to work?"

Wise Leadership and AI - 5 | The AI Race

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:34:01 Z

The trend towards ‘techno-nationalism’, where a nation relies on its own resources to become a leader in AI machine learning and other crucial strategic tech areas, is fully underway. The race is on, but how is it playing out? And why will wise leadership talent be so important?

The groundbreaking deep learning approach to AI has turbo-charged the cognitive capabilities of machines. This ‘narrow artificial intelligence’ (versus the as-yet-unachieved ‘general artificial intelligence’) can now do a better job than humans in a range of domains, from identifying faces and recognizing speech, to issuing loans.

Unsurprisingly, many companies, and the countries from which they originate, are eager to master them. How these countries, especially the USA and China, the two most advanced in AI, choose to compete and cooperate, will have a dramatic effect on global economics, and geopolitics in general.

Partner Perspectives: Is the home office a blessing or a curse?

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:27:50 Z

Working from home: the concept moved in, unannounced, with Austrian companies across the board in March 2020, as an emergency pandemic plan. It’s probably set for a prolonged stay. Or it may never leave. In itself, it’s nothing new. Companies all over the world have been experimenting with the ‘home office’ working model for years. They introduced homeworking, but in some cases brought employees back to the office if things didn’t go to plan.

Thanks to the coronavirus, the parameters have fundamentally changed. Many companies have been forced into the home office, emptiness and silence reign on the premises, office parks are wastelands. After months of exceptional conditions, the first long-term effects of collective office absence are beginning to emerge. There is no argument about the fact that the home office also has its shadow sides. In this interview, Amrop's Guenther Tengel thinks a few steps further: “The home office damages companies,” he says.

By Sandra Baierl, Dana Dauer: KURIER

Amrop at CISO Day 2025: Insights & Take-aways

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 13:08:49 Z

A Strong, Connected Community in Cybersecurity

2025's CISO Day, the annual networking event for CISOs in business, government, and everything in between, took place on May 27 in the Netherlands. The event gathered more than 300 cybersecurity leaders, while Amrop once again took part as a Gold Partner with the participation of Job Voorhoeve, Amrop’s Global Digital Practice leader and Frieda Barendse, Leadership Services at Amrop Netherlands.

We talked to Job and Frieda after the event and asked them to share their core take-aways from their conversations with C-suite and board-level tech leaders.

Personal Governance 8: Reputation

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 12:45:19 Z

What would a client say about you, after you leave the room? This will be passed on and over time, coalesce into your reputation. So we could summarize reputation as the opinion formed by different people, with a high degree of consistency, over a long period, about a subject (a person or a company). Experience leads to labels: fast, dependable, performance-oriented, etc. Over time, these start to bear considerable weight for a reputation and brand. Our ‘active references’ – people with positive attributions about us - pave the way to fruitful relationships and business development.

Managers with good Personal Governance carefully cultivate their personal reputation, and by association, the reputation of their organization. Doing so has never been more critical.

Living Sustainability: Victor Treviño, FEMSA

Thu, 22 May 2025 14:04:59 Z

Continuing our exploration of how food and beverage multinationals are addressing sustainability today, Amrop talks with Victor Treviño, Director of Energy and Sustainability at FEMSA.

Sustainability has always been a part of FEMSA’s DNA. How is this globalizing organization building on its legacy? It begins with ‘rooted sustainability’, says Mr. Treviño: everybody must incorporate it into their day-to-day operations and long-range planning.

Interview by Jaime Montemayor, Member of the Global Amrop Board and Managing Partner, Amrop Mexico.

CIO vs. CTO: Deciphering the Tech Leadership Landscape

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:49:26 Z

The lines between Chief Information Officer (CIO) and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) have blurred considerably in recent years, making it increasingly challenging for CEOs and recruiters to navigate the tech leadership landscape.

In this article Jamal Khan, Managing Partner of Amrop in Australia and a member of Amrop’s Global Digital practice delves into the evolving distinctions between these critical roles, their impact on recruitment tactics, and how CEOs can leverage this understanding to successfully appoint top talent.

Consumer & Retail: An Interview with Stefan Ottelin, Amrop Finland

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:39:34 Z

"Success in retail now hinges on digital strategy, consumer understanding, and sustainability."

Stefan Ottelin is a Partner at Amrop Finland and a member of Amrop’s Global Consumer & Retail Practice. Stefan has an extensive experience in recruiting executives, board members and senior talents for general management, sales, marketing, finance, HR and line management positions mainly in Consumer Goods, Retail and Wholesale sectors. He’s been in the Executive Search Industry for over 25 years.

We spoke to Stefan about the impact of digital technology and e-commerce on the retail landscape, the evolving expectations for leadership candidates regarding technological savvy and sustainability, and the benefits of being part of Amrop’s Global Consumer & Retail Practice for enhancing recruitment strategies.

Driving Innovation and Team Success: Insights from IKEA Leadership

Thu, 22 May 2025 13:16:29 Z

In a retail landscape that is changing fast, effective collaboration and adaptability are essential. In this context, Amrop spoke with Katarzyna Warchał, Managing Director at IKEA Purchasing and Logistics for Central Europe, who throughout has witnessed significant changes in the role of Purchasing, and has excelled in developing successful teams across diverse functions and cultures.

Katarzyna shares her insights on recruitment, the importance of clarity in team roles, the impact of digitalization on buyers' responsibilities and new generations of leaders entering the workforce. She also discusses how IKEA embraces long-term partnerships and the principles of democratic design to drive innovation and navigate modern challenges.

Recruiting the Digital Leaders for What’s Next

Thu, 22 May 2025 12:56:27 Z

Attracting Top Talent for Chief AI Officer and Digital Leadership Positions

The rise of AI is fundamentally remaking corporate strategy. More than a tool, AI is a strategic imperative - a once-in-a-generation opportunity to redefine industries and outpace competitors. As AI-driven transformation accelerates, corporate leaders must navigate its implications for the workforce.

In our latest report, Amrop’s Global Digital Practice examines the leadership competencies essential for successfully integrating AI into organizations, as well as strategies for developing these skills. We interviewed CEOs/GMs, inviting them to share their real experience in leveraging AI strategies for their organization and customers. We asked them about AI tools used in their organizations, the impact of AI on leadership skills, how their organizations are experiencing AI’s disruptive effects and the future of AI in their organizations and their industries.

In the executive summary below, Amrop's Job Voorhoeve outlines what we’ve learned about leading in the AI age and the very crucial role of the Chief AI Officer.

Turning the Tide: Inside the Transformation of Coop Øst

Thu, 22 May 2025 12:21:24 Z

A CEO’s Playbook for Purpose-Driven Performance

When Gøril Joys Johnsen assumed the role of CEO at Coop Øst in August 2023, she stepped into a company that had long posed a challenge for Coop in Norway. With years of financial losses and persistent issues in store operations, the company had on several occasions required emergency support from the broader Coop community. Her predecessor had made significant improvements, but the Norwegian operations were still facing a negative financial trajectory.

In less than eighteen months, Johnsen and her team not only reversed this trend but delivered a profit of NOK 147 million in Norway and NOK 307 million across the entire business.

In this interview with Amrop's Consumer & Retail Practice, she shares insights into the turnaround, the challenges encountered, and how she involved the organization to create sustainable change.

Download the full interview here.

Consumer & Retail: Fostering Creativity and Innovation

Mon, 12 May 2025 13:24:40 Z

Organizations share strategies for engaging and attracting the emerging generation of leaders in the Consumer and Retail sector.

Traditional retail business models have undergone a complete revolution, with online, mobile and discount all changing the dynamics for high street retailers who are scrambling to ensure they remain relevant and competitive. New entrants drive innovation while facing all the intricacies of scaling and transitioning founding teams. Many businesses are seeing the leadership baton increasingly passed to Millennials, with Gen Z becoming a significant percentage of the workforce. Organizations must seek leaders who can adapt and respond effectively to meet these demands.

Ladislava Molnárová, Partner at Amrop Slovakia and a member of Amrop’s Global Consumer Practice, shares her views: "Attracting the next generation of leaders is becoming increasingly vital for consumer and retail companies seeking sustainable success. Global 'academy' companies like Tesco and Heineken are spearheading initiatives designed to meet the unique aspirations of these young talents. By providing insights into their company culture and offering international experiences, these organizations are preparing young leaders to navigate the complexities of the global market."

HR Austria | Between crisis- and change management

Mon, 12 May 2025 08:49:50 Z

Historical ties and an understanding of multiple different cultures make Austria, and its capital Vienna, the gateway to Central and Eastern Europe, and home to the headquarters of over 600 international companies. Austria’s HR executives have played a pivotal dual role during the lockdown, from ‘fire brigade’ to ‘strategic companion’ on the journey towards a new normal.

In June 2020, Amrop Jenewein surveyed a select group of HR executives to understand their perspective on this rapidly unfolding situation. In this report you will find their insights fresh from the frontlines.

How is the function of HR defined in the context of the corona crisis?
New Work - just a question of digital tools or a question of the right mindset?
Leadership - how to create a culture of trust without losing control?
What are the priorities for human resources in the future?

Disconnected Data: The Case for Wisdom in Leadership Assessment

Thu, 08 May 2025 12:21:33 Z

Leadership Assessment sits at the very heart of the talent management landscape. It is extensively (and enthusiastically) deployed by executive search firms and organizations. Yet it is in this domain that shortfalls in leadership talent strategy are most starkly reflected.

The need for ‘wise’ leadership in business has never been stronger. Today a more ethical, responsible and sustainable approach is in universal demand; not only by shareholders (for example, when it comes to meeting ESG criteria or SDGs), but by the wider stakeholder community. This ‘holistic’ approach is rapidly earning its place in the way leaders are expected to think, behave and make decisions.

In this article we’ll argue that wise leadership needs better integration in the way in which these key executives are assessed - a high-stakes intervention in recruiting, development and career progression.

Watching Me, Watching You: The Hidden Stakes of Leadership Assessment Post-M&A

Thu, 08 May 2025 12:11:19 Z

A merger or acquisition is an enduring yet risky 'reboot' strategy for organizations. And the post-M&A phase is pivotal. Identifying and positioning the right leaders is a matter of vital importance, making their assessment a widespread reflex.

Yet the way in which senior talent is assessed can make or break the commitment of an organization's most precious assets at a vulnerable time for all.