Sector specialists

Experienced consultants focused on specialised areas

To guarantee a high level of industry competence, our consultants are focused on specific specialist areas. They are professionals with many years of experience in their fields, they maintain important networks and have a corresponding track record. We continually foster the distinct industry knowledge of our team members with internal and external training and an ongoing exchange of experience. As a customer, you can therefore always discuss your concerns at eye level.

Top positions for the following industries

Our strength lies in finding suitable senior executives and board members for the following industries:

Consulting & Professional Services

Moving a successful consultant from one consulting company to another requires a great deal of sensitivity and corresponding market knowledge. Candidates with key account and P&L responsibility are often their own profit centres. In addition, they frequently base their success on a robust internal company network. Only those who have positioned themselves as long-term career partners of the candidates have a realistic chance to persuade the top people to change. Our consultants maintain a strong candidate network in their field of expertise, be it in strategy consulting, IT consulting, legal consulting, or other industry-specific service fields.

• Strategy and Top Management Consulting
• IT and Technology Consulting
• HR Consulting
• Audit and Fiduciary Services
• Law Firms
• PR and Advertising Agencies
• Engineering Services
• Sustainability Consulting and ESG

Consumer Goods / Retail

The consumer goods and retail industry are undergoing a profound change worldwide. In Switzerland, stationary retailing is under increasing pressure due to the proliferation of new technological opportunities and changes in purchasing behaviour. Increased shopping tourism is also contributing to this dynamic. The main drivers of change in the field of consumer goods are online trading (e-commerce) and the establishment of new sales channels with more flexible opening hours such as petrol stations and railway station shops. At the physical POS, the consumer seeks the shopping experience, while in the digital sales channel the focus is on maximum ease of use and a high degree of user-friendliness. During these changes, the entire supply chain must continuously be further developed and adapted to these circumstances. In order to meet the increased customer needs and the changes brought about by digitalisation, the requirements placed on management and top management in the retail and consumer goods sectors are changing fundamentally. We will be pleased to support you in winning the future minds for the further success of your company.

• Retail
• Consumer Goods, including Consumer Goods Production
• E-Commerce
• Wholesale
• Direct Sales

Energy

The Swiss energy industry is undergoing a fundamental change. Firstly, the technologies used are changing due to a new mix of energy sources, the shift from centralised to decentralised generation, the implementation of smart grids and digitalisation. Secondly, new business models are emerging in the industry – from established companies, but increasingly also from new players. Thirdly, stronger customer orientation and more competition are evolving – even without official liberalisation of the electricity market for private customers. We support our customers in mastering these challenges – by winning the right key personalities from within and outside the industry.

• Internationally Integrated Utility Companies
• Regional Utility Companies
• Municipal Utilities
• Wholesale Companies/Commodity Trading
• Network Operators
• Energy Services
• Contracting, Waste Management, Recycling
• Building Technology and Installation

Financial Services

Increasing regulation and digitalisation pose a major challenge for traditional banks, insurance companies and other financial service providers. Margins are falling while costs are rising. A large number of start-ups in the FinTech and InsurTech sectors are attacking the business models of established financial service providers. Innovative technologies such as block chain and changed business models make it easier for new participants to enter the market. Competition is intensifying and reducing profitability. The increasingly digital interaction with customers poses a new challenge to customer service and the branch network disappears or is transformed accordingly. Sustainability is also becoming increasingly important in the financial sector. Both internationally and within Switzerland, financial players are more and more making responsible financing and investment decisions that take into account their impact on the environment and society. We take all these aspects into account when we support you in filling your demanding positions by finding the ideal match that will take your company forward today and tomorrow.

• Asset and Wealth Management
• Corporate Banking
• Retail and Private Banking
• Investment Banking
• Private Market and Real Estate Investments
• Digitalization/Fintech/Insurtech
• Primary and Reinsurance
• Health Insurance
• Pension Funds

Healthcare

The complexity of the Swiss healthcare system is constantly increasing. The political framework is changing and the existence of many clinics is at risk. Under the pressure of costs, quality and competition, hospitals are entering into cooperations, changing their range of services, switching from outpatient to inpatient services, merging or closing down. Medical changes, new diagnoses, therapies and technologies leave their mark. The particular dilemma of this industry is that, on the one hand, there is a demand for personalities who can further develop these organisations and examine new opportunities. On the other hand, the hospitals are all to a certain extent public-service entities (at least with a mandate from the public sector), in order to ensure coverage of the population with health services. At schillingpartners, we can look back on a large number of successful appointments to the management bodies of healthcare providers, health insurers, regulators and other players in the healthcare sector. Therefore, we are also familiar with the political processes and current development trends and can act as your sparring partner. We are at your disposal for an in-depth discussion or presentation.

• Hospitals
• Psychiatric Institutions
• Rehabilitation Clinics
• Health Departments
• Industry Associations
• Healthcare Leagues
• Healthcare Foundations
• Federally affiliated Organizations in Healthcare
• Other Healthcare Service Providers

Life Sciences

We are your partner when it comes to complex vacancies in the life sciences environment. This includes the pharmaceutical, biotech and medical technology industries. These industries are currently undergoing far-reaching changes due to new regulatory requirements, but also due to increasing demands on quality assurance and shorter product life cycles. Digitalisation is also on the increase. Patients are confronted more strongly with technology, companies react to new technical implementation opportunities and develop a strategy that is more aimed at the consumer. In addition, numerous technologies will become usable that we have not even seen in this form before. Our expertise covers a broad spectrum of management positions along the entire value chain. We will be happy to advise you comprehensively on strategically important key positions at C level as well as in top management and find the right personalities for you in order to be prepared for future challenges.

• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Medical Technology
• Biotechnology
• Biotech Start-ups

Manufacturing Industry

The transformation of organisations and the associated digitalisation and automation of processes is a major challenge for manufacturing companies. The corporate landscape has changed to such an extent that it is necessary to adapt to new technologies and develop new ways of working. Recognising and exploiting opportunities requires leaders who have both technological skills and a vision to gain competitive advantage from new technologies to achieve strategic goals. We are your partner when it comes to growth, transformation, and realisation of industry 4.0 and support you with our in-depth industry and market knowledge to find the right profiles. We advise you comprehensively in the discussion and definition of future strategically important key positions at C level and in top management and find the right personalities for you to be prepared for tomorrow’s requirements.

• Building Materials/Raw Materials
• Construction Trades
• Electrical Industry
• Measurement/Control/Regulation Technology
• Automation Technology and Robotics
• Polymer Technology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Conveying/Storage Technology
• Packaging Technology
• Machine Tools
• Metal Processing
• Process Engineering
• Chemistry/Chemical Industry
• Pulp & Paper Industry
• Plant Engineering
• Transportation and Logistics

Public Sector

The difficulties of the public sector in the areas of health and energy supply, construction, education, security etc. are well known to us, the speed of change in this sector has increased significantly over the last few years. Topics such as digitalisation, state-of-the-art governance and efficiency improvements have therefore emerged. This has led to changes in the requirements for filling management positions and adapting them to the conditions of the private sector. As a leading Swiss consulting firm, we have extensive experience in the selection of leaders and experts in key public sector positions at the federal, cantonal and municipal levels. We will be happy to advise you on filling key positions and present some references to you.

• Federal Government
• Cantonal Administrations
• City/Municipal Administrations
• Enterprises owned by the Public Sector

Real Estate & Construction

The real estate industry is one of the largest economic contributors in Switzerland. More than half a million people work in the real estate sector, from architects to engineers, construction workers, administrators, managers and cleaners. The sector is in a super-cycle and looks back to almost 20 years of growth. Nevertheless, a major change is imminent: reduced immigration, demographic development, changing housing needs, a decline in retail space due to e-commerce, potentially rising interest rates and changes in the economic cycle are to be met. Project development is required to keep space flexible from the outset and to make various uses possible, BIM must be introduced throughout the entire life cycle of the property and energy efficiency is paramount. At the same time, PropTech start-ups are bringing new momentum to the market with new products and services. In this demanding field of tension, we are your partner when it comes to finding the right person so that your company can continue to successfully establish itself in the face of increasing competition.

• General Contractors
• Architecture and Engineering Firms
• Construction-Related Trads
• Facility Management/Cleaning/Security
• Real Estate Management
• Real Estate Trading
• PropTech

Technology

Digitization is of strategic importance for every area of business and determines competitive advantages. It affects all trade, customer, and supplier relationships. The ability to be efficient and flexible at the same time and to navigate successfully in complex structures is becoming increasingly important. There are new challenges related to platforms and their providers, the quantification of value-added and the enhancement of customer loyalty and experience. Changing ways of working place increased demands on availability, security and compliance. Our in-depth IT and digital expertise qualify us as a competent partner for consulting and selection around the design of your ICT organization as well as the selection of digital talent and executives you need to make strategic decisions to transform your business models and leverage today’s technologies like Cloud, Big Data, AI, social networking etc. in a forward-looking way.

• CIO/CTO
• CISO
• CEO/CSO/CMO/COO for IT Service Providers
• Cloud, Big Data, Analytics, BI (IaaS, SaaS, PaaS)
• Digital & CDO
• Application Management & Infrastructure
• Enterprise Architecture
• ERP/CRM
• IT Services & Outsourcing
• IoT/Robotics/Chatbots
• Innovation & Business Engineering
• IT Transformation & Change Management