General Management
General Management
General Management
Orchestrating strategy, execution and resilience all at the same time
Orchestrating strategy, execution and resilience all at the same time
Orchestrating strategy, execution and resilience all at the same time
The challenge for today’s leaders is to accelerate profitable growth with AI, improve productivity, harden resilience and controls, and navigate fast‑shifting regulation, without losing speed or culture.
The challenge for today’s leaders is to accelerate profitable growth with AI, improve productivity, harden resilience and controls, and navigate fast‑shifting regulation, without losing speed or culture.
The challenge for today’s leaders is to accelerate profitable growth with AI, improve productivity, harden resilience and controls, and navigate fast‑shifting regulation, without losing speed or culture.
The executive Leadership Challenge
Surveys of global leaders show a consistent agenda: AI‑driven productivity, business reinvention, smarter capital allocation, M&A and upgraded operating models as well as governance. Confidence is tempered by execution risk: CEOs see early AI benefits but uneven value capture and the need for stronger data foundations and operating‑model change.
With over two decades of experience in recruitment, I help professionals and leaders take the next step in their careers. My goal is to build meaningful connections that create real value and lay the foundation for long‑term growth. Today I am proud to be the Managing Partner of Michael Illert Executive Recruitment and share this passion with an incredible team spread across the BeNeLux and DACH region. From here we serve our clients across Europe and the UK. While we believe in leveraging the latest technology, we hold one fundamental principle at heart: human connection and understanding will always be at the core of executive search.
The executive Leadership Challenge
Surveys of global leaders show a consistent agenda: AI‑driven productivity, business reinvention, smarter capital allocation, M&A and upgraded operating models as well as governance. Confidence is tempered by execution risk: CEOs see early AI benefits but uneven value capture and the need for stronger data foundations and operating‑model change.
With over two decades of experience in recruitment, I help professionals and leaders take the next step in their careers. My goal is to build meaningful connections that create real value and lay the foundation for long‑term growth. Today I am proud to be the Managing Partner of Michael Illert Executive Recruitment and share this passion with an incredible team spread across the BeNeLux and DACH region. From here we serve our clients across Europe and the UK. While we believe in leveraging the latest technology, we hold one fundamental principle at heart: human connection and understanding will always be at the core of executive search.
The executive Leadership Challenge
Surveys of global leaders show a consistent agenda: AI‑driven productivity, business reinvention, smarter capital allocation, M&A and upgraded operating models as well as governance. Confidence is tempered by execution risk: CEOs see early AI benefits but uneven value capture and the need for stronger data foundations and operating‑model change.
With over two decades of experience in recruitment, I help professionals and leaders take the next step in their careers. My goal is to build meaningful connections that create real value and lay the foundation for long‑term growth. Today I am proud to be the Managing Partner of Michael Illert Executive Recruitment and share this passion with an incredible team spread across the BeNeLux and DACH region. From here we serve our clients across Europe and the UK. While we believe in leveraging the latest technology, we hold one fundamental principle at heart: human connection and understanding will always be at the core of executive search.
Michael Illert
Managing Partner & Founder
Michael Illert
Managing Partner & Founder
Michael Illert
Managing Partner & Founder
General Management as the Core Lever
General Management as the Core Lever
We know that long‑term success isn’t just about keeping the machine running; it’s about building a decision and execution system that repeatedly turns strategy into outcomes. We specialise in appointing executive leaders who translate ambition into growth, productivity and resilience.
We know that long‑term success isn’t just about keeping the machine running; it’s about building a decision and execution system that repeatedly turns strategy into outcomes. We specialise in appointing executive leaders who translate ambition into growth, productivity and resilience.
What separates market leaders from followers
What separates market leaders from followers
Leaders are re‑architecting the operating model for AI and productivity. Winning executives pair clear value theses with redesigned workflows, cross‑functional execution, and governance for responsible AI, moving beyond pilots to enterprise impact, including agentic AI. They manage a more volatile risk horizon. Board‑level exposure now includes conflict and trade disruptions, misinformation, extreme weather and cyber risk all demanding tighter enterprise risk management and communications. They balance reinvention and dealmaking. Portfolios are being reshaped despite macro uncertainty: consolidation in scale‑industries, selective megadeals, and disciplined use of private credit.
Leaders are re‑architecting the operating model for AI and productivity. Winning executives pair clear value theses with redesigned workflows, cross‑functional execution, and governance for responsible AI, moving beyond pilots to enterprise impact, including agentic AI. They manage a more volatile risk horizon. Board‑level exposure now includes conflict and trade disruptions, misinformation, extreme weather and cyber risk all demanding tighter enterprise risk management and communications. They balance reinvention and dealmaking. Portfolios are being reshaped despite macro uncertainty: consolidation in scale‑industries, selective megadeals, and disciplined use of private credit.
Five core areas which drive enablement and innovation across General Management
CEO & Board Leadership
Sets the value agenda, clear narrative, capital allocation, investor and stakeholder confidence; aligns the enterprise around reinvention and measurable outcomes.
CEO & Board Leadership
Sets the value agenda, clear narrative, capital allocation, investor and stakeholder confidence; aligns the enterprise around reinvention and measurable outcomes.
CEO & Board Leadership
Sets the value agenda, clear narrative, capital allocation, investor and stakeholder confidence; aligns the enterprise around reinvention and measurable outcomes.
Enterprise Strategy & Corporate Development
Reshapes the portfolio, organic bets plus targeted M&A/partnerships; integrations that realise scale, synergy and capability advantages.
Enterprise Strategy & Corporate Development
Reshapes the portfolio, organic bets plus targeted M&A/partnerships; integrations that realise scale, synergy and capability advantages.
Enterprise Strategy & Corporate Development
Reshapes the portfolio, organic bets plus targeted M&A/partnerships; integrations that realise scale, synergy and capability advantages.
Operations & Transformation
Operating‑model redesign, AI‑enablement, supply‑chain resilience and a culture of continuous improvement.
Operations & Transformation
Operating‑model redesign, AI‑enablement, supply‑chain resilience and a culture of continuous improvement.
Operations & Transformation
Operating‑model redesign, AI‑enablement, supply‑chain resilience and a culture of continuous improvement.
Digital, Data & AI
Builds the enterprise “nervous system” on trusted data, responsible AI at scale, automation of core workflows, and defensible cyber posture.
Digital, Data & AI
Builds the enterprise “nervous system” on trusted data, responsible AI at scale, automation of core workflows, and defensible cyber posture.
Digital, Data & AI
Builds the enterprise “nervous system” on trusted data, responsible AI at scale, automation of core workflows, and defensible cyber posture.
Risk, Sustainability & Governance
Integrates ERM, sustainability and compliance, aligning CSRD/CSDDD, AI governance, and cybersecurity with strategy and reporting.
Risk, Sustainability & Governance
Integrates ERM, sustainability and compliance, aligning CSRD/CSDDD, AI governance, and cybersecurity with strategy and reporting.
Risk, Sustainability & Governance
Integrates ERM, sustainability and compliance, aligning CSRD/CSDDD, AI governance, and cybersecurity with strategy and reporting.