Executive search for growth companies in Europe

If you don't go above and beyond, why should your next hire?

Great leaders want to join great CEOs who go the extra mile. We help you show that — by getting to the truth of your growth story so you attract not just candidates, but people who want to build it with you. Don't trust our words. Test us for €500.

Start with the €500 Proof

The €500 Proof: one structured briefing call, 20 target profiles with Dirk's written assessment, delivered in 14 days. No mandate required.

You have been here before. Good words. Wrong people.

1
You see the market. You know the move you need to make. But the senior leader who can actually open that door is not in your pipeline — and probably not on LinkedIn either.
2
The search firm you tried sent profiles that looked right on paper. They could run the current business. Not one of them had the drive to go somewhere new.
3
You spent weeks in interviews with polished senior people who talked well but flinched when the growth plan got real. That time does not come back.

Find the leaders who turn growth plans into revenue

Challenge your hiring brief, show your story clearly, and meet a small shortlist of senior leaders who fit your growth ambition.

Man presenting beside a planning board with sticky notes in an office

Find leaders built for new markets

Go beyond standard profiles and meet senior candidates with the mindset, network, and drive to help your company win in the next market.

Business meeting with a man presenting beside a wall chart covered in sticky notes

Get challenged before you start hiring

Test your growth story, role, and assumptions in a deep briefing so you search for the leader you actually need, not the obvious one.

Meet fewer candidates and trust them more

Receive a tight shortlist in about three weeks, backed by real interviews and onboarding support, so your hire sticks and your team can move faster.

How we actually work

No tick-box approach. No safe profiles. Here is what working with Just Better looks like.

We ask first whether the role itself is right

Before we search for anyone, we challenge your brief. Your growth plan, your market logic, your assumptions about the role. That session can take up to three hours. It is worth it.

If we don't believe in it, we don't take the mandate

We only work with companies whose growth story we can stand behind. If we cannot convince a strong candidate to join, we will tell you — before we waste each other's time.

A real video, not another recruiter message

We film the briefing session and turn it into a short, honest video. Candidates see your decision makers, your energy, your ambition. That puts you in the top one or two percent of outreach they actually respond to.

People who want to build, not just manage

We look for non-standard profiles. People you would probably not have invited yourself but who have the drive, the network, and the mindset to open new markets for you.

Three to five strong candidates in about three weeks

Not a pile of CVs. A tight shortlist of people we have already interviewed and believe in. You spend your time on the right conversations, not on filtering noise.

We stay in it until it actually works

Signing the contract is just the start. We stay close through onboarding so both sides build trust, stay aligned, and the hire sticks long term.

Success Story

What a mandate looks like in practice

EDF needed to build its startup ecosystem in Germany from scratch with leaders who could think globally, act locally, and navigate a politically complex energy market. Jean-Marc Bazenet, then-CEO of EDF Renewables Germany, needed leaders who understood both French HQ logic and German execution culture. There were no existing hires to clone, no local footprint to lean on. We placed several general managers across hydrogen, battery storage, and digital energy. Hybrid profiles that combined strategic thinking with real pragmatism. Today EDF's energy ventures are operational across multiple cleantech verticals, with a leadership core that built the German presence from zero.
“Good advisors listen more than they talk. Dirk took the time to understand our specific situation — the market complexity, the cultural dynamics, the constraints. The result reflected that.”
Jean-Marc Bazenet
CEO
EDF Renewables Deutschland

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Just Better different from a typical executive search firm?

You do not get a safe shortlist of lookalike profiles. We challenge your growth plan first, then look for leaders who can help you move into new markets and actually lead. We care about fit, energy, and belief in your story, not just a polished CV.

Who is this for?

Just Better is for founders, CEOs, investors, and people leaders at growth companies that need a senior hire to unlock the next stage. It is a strong fit if your market is changing, your company is growing fast, or you need a leader who can build something new.

How does the search process work?

We start with a deep briefing session with the key decision makers. From there, we shape the role, reach out directly to senior candidates, and interview them closely. In about three weeks, you get a shortlist of 3 to 5 strong candidates, not a pile of random resumes.

Why do you use video in the search process?

A real video helps candidates see your people, your energy, and why this role matters. That makes your outreach feel real, not like another recruiter message. It helps strong candidates pay attention and gives you a better chance of starting honest conversations.

Will you help after we choose a candidate?

Yes. We stay involved through final interviews, the offer stage, and onboarding if you want support. That matters because a signed contract is only the start. The first months are where trust is built and where great hires stick.

How do I know if Just Better is the right fit for us?

It starts with a clarity call or first meeting. We need to believe in each other. If you are serious about growth, open to honest conversations, and ready to hire a leader who brings drive and not just experience, there is a good chance we will work well together.

Not sure yet? Start with the €500 Proof.

One structured briefing call. Within 14 days you get 20 target profiles — 5 fully visible — with Dirk's written assessment of why each person could do this job. You see exactly who would be approached. If it fits, the search begins. If not, no hard feelings and no wasted mandate.

Book a Clarity Call Get the €500 Proof

Fixed price. Delivered in 14 days. No commitment beyond the €500.