Headhunting
Automotive
Automotive 2026 means:
Managing and recruiting during a crisis. At the same time, there is pressure to innovate amid dramatic cost pressures, unclear political and international conditions, and the parallel decline in the importance of wheelbase in favour of software-defined vehicles. Only the best minds with commitment and resilience in your team can help here. And we will find them for you!
Your Headhunters for Automotive - Schlagheck + Radtke
Automotive 2026: THE PERFECT STORM?
Low call-off numbers, cost pressure, ongoing technological change, political and legal uncertainties, the trend toward the SDV… - the list of challenges is long. At the same time the culture in the industry is also changing, and so are the requirements for management and executives. How do you manage, lead and motivate in view of these developments, without planning certainty and security? In addition many executives have never experienced such a massive crisis situation and accordingly also have no relevant experience.
With our systematic deductive approach we also find the employees who move your company forward in this setting. In doing so we rely on a KPI-based and closely controlled process that makes any obstacles in the project progress immediately visible and enables quick remedy.
We work in all functional areas. This allows us to take on most vacancies for our clients and thereby develop a very deep understanding of the company, its market and its culture, and to personally propose candidates to the client who truly fit the company. Functionally our automotive focus areas in 2025 were sales, purchasing, controlling, IT and production.
What we are good at:
As an experienced executive search consultancy in the automotive sector with a particular focus on small and medium sized companies we understand their specific requirements.
We work in all functional areas. This allows us to take on most vacancies for our clients and thereby develop a very deep understanding of the company, its market and its culture and to personally propose candidates to the client who truly fit the company. Functionally our automotive focus areas in 2025 were sales, purchasing, controlling, IT and production.
Executive search with us - your advantages:
- A high quality and personal service with a focus on your satisfaction is always our top priority. The many long term clients we have are clear proof of this.
- Fast, systematic and transparent search process, weekly reporting and project controlling
- Best possible market penetration through the use of well founded, agile and practical methodologies and AI tools
- Extensive search at your location and when needed worldwide with our international network Praxi alliance
- Carefully selected candidates who are a strong fit with a 24 month GUARANTEE
Our quality is based on our many years of experience in the automotive industry:
The long standing client relationship: positions across the entire organizational chart
Mid sized 1st tier interior / seating supplier, > 5,000 employees: we have been supporting this company for 12 years and have filled more than 20 projects there during this time. From a REFA engineer and product manager to BU leaders, the Heads of IT and Controlling and the CFO, up to an interim manager for a plant in Mexico.
The international project: plant manager for the Polish plant (at the same time lead plant) of an interior components manufacturer, > 2,000 employees, with a focus on injection molding.
The requirement: a top plant manager for the turnaround of a plant with 500 employees in the south east of Poland – away from the major metropolitan areas. Because of the not very attractive location the search was conducted across Europe. The successful candidate was found in Portugal and had already been responsible for a Polish plant for his previous company.
Head of project management for development, simulation and testing
The German subsidiary of a European corporate group, > 5,000 employees, was looking for a team lead project management in a very narrow technological field. This person also had to bring leadership experience and certain sales related qualities. A candidate was found at an OEM – unusual enough – who in addition to the broader role was also motivated by the coincidentally very suitable work location.
How do I find employees in automotive?
Let us talk!
If you have a specific request or would like to learn more about our executive search services then feel free to get in touch with us.
Sebastian Radtke
Headhunter Automotive
Munich / Ulm
Tel. +49 731 953 139 0
Christian Wolfrum
Headhunter Automotive
Düsseldorf
Tel. +49 2132 510 217 0
Q & A about Executive Search
How do you find candidates who are motivated to change jobs?
As experienced executive search consultants we already consider at the beginning of the search which target group the advertised position offers added value to. No one changes their employer without good and understandable reasons and we must have worked these out beforehand.
What does up to 24 month guarantee mean in executive search?
If a separation occurs during this period because of professional or personal deficiencies we conduct the search again free of charge. If the candidate resigns on their own during this period we will also search again free of charge.
How long does it take until a position is filled?
Our personnel search follows a clearly defined process therefore the decisive candidates are presented to you within 4 to a maximum of 6 weeks. In addition there is your further decision process and the candidate’s notice period.
What happens if you cannot fill the position?
The full fee is only due if the position is filled through our headhunting. However it is very rare that we cannot fill a position. If we encounter difficulties we work with you to develop alternative solutions or search strategies and in most cases are therefore able to achieve a satisfactory placement.