Maurice Werntges-Gaplanyan on Modern Executive Search and Hiring Technology Leaders

About this episode

Maurice Werntges-Gaplanyan, Owner of WERNTGES EXECUTIVE SEARCH, joins Nikola to unpack why recruitment belongs on the board agenda. As a trusted partner to technology-focused companies, Maurice advises and operates executive search at a strategic level — supporting C-level and HR executives in recruiting the best talent and leaders. We talk about why recruitment is a C-level topic, where founders of tech scale-ups need a real sparring partner, and the moments when a headhunter makes the difference between slowing down and breaking through. Maurice shares how he structures the first weeks of a mandate, what "eye-level partnership" looks like in practice, and how confidential, cross-border searches across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are run with discretion and rigor. If you lead a technology-focused company and want a headhunter who works at strategic depth, this conversation is a clear view of what good looks like — and a practical playbook for CEOs starting a critical search this quarter.

Key topics discussed

• The 60-second snapshot of WERNTGES EXECUTIVE SEARCH
• How a C-level mandate is structured in the first 2–3 weeks
• Ideal client profile and the outcomes that matter (time to slate, time to hire, stick rate)
• What "eye-level partnership" looks like in intake, calibration, and decision-making
• Why recruitment belongs on the board agenda
• Sparring with founders of tech scale-ups on role design, comp, and sequencing
• Situations where a headhunter is essential: confidential moves, market mapping, turnarounds
• Safeguards for confidential and sensitive mandates
• Cross-border lessons across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland
• Three steps for a CEO starting a critical search this quarter
• How to connect with Maurice and WERNTGES EXECUTIVE SEARCH