Executive Search & Consulting | Hamburg

a next generation
human resources and
management consultancy

We assist digital marketing- and sales-businesses with executive search services, analyses and insights. Our focus lies on improving organisational structures and strategically guided team expansion. Our clients range from publishers and media sales houses, to technical service providers, agencies and advertisers in various industries.

We are a
team of true
‍industry experts

For decades, we have held senior management positions in the media sales and ad tech industries ourselves, shaping the developments of the digital media landscape. Our combined industry experience shapes the core of our business: our expert understanding of the needs of key players in the digital media marketplace. This affords us the unique position to competently manage the dialogue between our clients and potential candidates in order to find the optimal solution for all parties involved.

In addition to clients from the media and advertising industries, we have also worked with companies from various other sectors, successfully placing qualified personnel with these businesses. Our extensive experience in recruiting staff for our own companies, combined with years of expertise in personnel placement, makes us the ideal partner for our clients when it comes to sourcing, selecting, and filling new team positions.

Axel Nieber

Founder and Managing Partner

Since 2016

DESPOVE GmbH, Hamburg
‍Founder and Managing Partner
2014 – 2016

Ströer Digital Media GmbH, Hamburg
Managing Director
2009 – 2014

Olympia Verlag GmbH, Nuremberg
General Sales Director kicker – kicker.de
2007 – 2008

Axel Springer SE, Hamburg
General Sales Director AUTOBILD.de
2005 – 2007

Axel Springer SE, Hamburg
General Sales Director SPORT BILD
2004 – 2005

Axel Springer SE, Hamburg
General Sales Director BILD KÖLN / AACHEN
1998 – 2004

Axel Springer SE, Hamburg
Sales Manager BILD, BamS, COMPUTER BILD, SPORT BILD

CHRISTIAN GRIESBACH

Managing Partner

Since 2019

DESPOVE GmbH, Hamburg
Managing Partner
2015 – 2018

Teads.tv, Hamburg
Executive Vice President Publisher Management EMEA
Managing Director DACH & Eastern Europe
2012 – 2015

Axel Springer SE - Axel Springer Media Impact, Berlin
General Manager Digital Marketing
2010 – 2011

mediasports Digital GmbH, Hamburg
Founder and Managing Director
2008 - 2010

Axel Springer - Media Impact, Berlin
General Manager Digital Sales
2004 – 2008

mediasquares GmbH, Hamburg/Dusseldorf
ad pepper media GmbH, Nuremberg
Managing Director
1998 - 2003

Real Media Deutschland GmbH, Hamburg/Munich
Managing Director

BVDW (Bundesverband Digitale Wirtschaft) (2003 – 2018), u.a:

OVK/IAB
Focus Group Programmatic Advertising/li>
Focus Group Digital Video AGOF (Industry Committee Online Research, Delegate)

AGOF (Arbeitsgemeinschaft Online Forschung, Delegierter):

Fokusgruppe Bewegtbild

VDZ (Industry Association of Germany Magazines and Publisher):

Working Group Premium Sales (Digital)

Claudius Gebele

Senior Executive Consultant

Since 2018

DESPOVE GmbH, Hamburg
‍Senior Executive Consultant
2013 – 2017

RECK International Executive Search, Hamburg
Senior Consultant
2011 – 2013

socialight talent NYC - Haarlem, Amsterdam
HR Teamlead DACH
2009 – 2011

Studio Rosto AD VOF, Amsterdam
Head of Production
2007 – 2009

twothings VOF + mikosa foundation, Amsterdam
Executive Producer
2006 – 2007

Red Bull BV & Carhartt EMEA B.V., Amsterdam
Creative Producer
2003 – 2006

Wieden+Kennedy B.V. & Saatchi&Saatchi, Amsterdam
Strategic Account Planer

Executive search

We search for, identify and contact suitable candidates for our clients. Based on our extensive, hands-on experience, we understand the heart of the matter when it comes to executive search for digital media. We have an extensive network of professionals across all the industries we serve and beyond, at all relevant seniority levels – nationally as well as internationally.

Consulting

We support companies in tackling current challenges related to personnel and digitalization. Frequently asked questions from our conversation partners include: “How should I structure my sales team most effectively?”, “What’s the best approach to international expansion?”, “How should I design and organize my planned market entry in Germany?”

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

We understand the challenges our clients face on the back of our own experiences. This puts us in an exclusive position to jointly develop job profiles that translate into meaningful career opportunities.

CONTACT

We are extremely well and deeply connected with the market and waste no time with sweeping outreach efforts. We identify and contact solely the potential candidates that clearly demonstrate the best fit for a respective job profile and hiring company.

PRESENTATION

We personally present the top candidates to our clients and support the selection process with the highest level of competence.

PLACEMENT

We are present along the entire hiring journey, up to and including contract negotiations and landing that final signature. We also gladly assist in the onboarding of hired candidates.