Western Europe

The European continent is divided today into at least two “halves” by history and by business. While there are some disputes over which European countries reside in which regional classification, Maccabeus identifies Western Europe’s countries as Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Lichtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, San Marino, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the U.K. The Renaissance, Age of Enlightenment, and Industrial Revolution radically-changed the Western European landscape, but there is still a very deeply-rooted, nationalistic DNA to the region that is critical to understand, respect, and, quite often, admire. Maccabeus understands and respects those differences having worked directly in all of the top five (5) industries in Western Europe (including Banking, Discrete Manufacturing, Process Manufacturing, Professional Services, and Retail). In AutoMobility, for example, Maccabeus has participated in technical reviews at BMW’s Technical Center in Munich, Germany, walked the floors of Volkswagen’s VW World and related plant in Wolfsburg, Germany, worked with the Renault Group Executives in Boulogne-Billancourt, Île-de-France, France, and participated with Fiat Executives at their offices in Turin, Italy during the merger with the Chrysler Group. We’ve also worked with most Automotive OEM’s in the region; including Alfa Romeo, Aston Martin, Audi, Bentley Motors, BMW, Citroën, Daimler, Fiat, Ferrari, Ford, GM, Honda, Hyundai-Kia, Jaguar, Jeep, Lancia, Land Rover, Lexus, Mazda, Mini, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Opel/Vauxhall, Peugeot, Porsche, Renault, SEAT, Škoda, Smart, Stellantis, Toyota, Volvo, and VW.

There is a profound level of diversity in Western Europe. With rich histories and corresponding legacies, each country is very distinct from its neighbors and those differences are even more unique as you consider the many regions within each country. Recruiting to a client in Paris is very different than recruiting to a client in Lyon – including the cultural reality that while some people in France know English and speak and understand it fluently, French is the national language and a working, speaking, reading, and understanding of it is quite often very critical in recruiting here (especially in the more rural areas). It is critically-important for Executives considering roles in one of the countries to understand the regional cultural differences. And it’s even more critical for the Executive Recruiting Firm to get this “right” from the beginning (to avoid hiring “misfires”, search “re-do’s”, etc.).

Maccabeus has been working in Western Europe for over thirty (30) years for both domestic and international clients and companies. Maccabeus understands Western Europe from the inside-out.

Culture, Culture, Culture

Realtors and related real estate investors will regularly talk about the most important decision for making an real estate investment is “location, location, location”. At Maccabeus, we say Executive recruiting comes down to three (3) words, as well – “culture, culture, culture”. Specifically, the culture of the company (or the client), the Executive, and the Country, Region, etc.

While it’s true that corporate vs. individual cultural fit is very important, what often gets missed is the “regional cultural fit”. Per the chart below, it’s important to remember how widely-dispersed Western Europe’s population is – as well as the legacy and Genesis of each of Western Europe’s twenty-three (23+) countries and corresponding cities, regions, etc. Anyone who’s lived and/or worked in Western Europe understands full-well how different the countries and their cities and regions are from each other.

At Maccabeus, we understand the Regional differences in each Western European country and how to apply those unique qualities across the cultural aspects of both companies (clients) and Executives (and their Families). We have recruited to many of the countries in Western Europe from very rural, low-population areas to densely-populated city centers and surrounding suburbs. We know the differences across Western Europe (both regionally and from an industry perspective) not just from an Executive Recruitment Firm’s perspective, but also as Executives who have considered relocations and/or new career challenges directly for ourselves and our Families. While we have counseled hundreds of Executives to not take an opportunity based on their concerns around cultural differences (based on location and/or the company), our Partners and Staff have also declined offers ourselves as Industry Executives – opportunities that just weren’t the right “fit” for either ourselves and/or our Families. We get it.

Finding the right Executives takes a tenacity to see through the surface of experiences and to look into the intangibles behind who a leader really is as a person. To get to know the companies, clients, Executives, Families, etc. behind the search project. Maccabeus is committed to and has a strong track record of recruiting and placing Executives across a diverse landscape of industries and locations.

We would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further with you and your Board.

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