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NELEX ::: NEXT LEVEL EXECUTIVE SEARCH

OUR TEAM WORKS FOR YOU:

At home in the digital world.

With our agile, team-oriented approach, we are able to quickly find the right line-up for highly specific positions – always with your industry-specific needs in mind. Let's talk!

Digitality

For us, digitality does not mean that we neglect personal contact. The opposite is the case. In recruitment consulting, we digitise the processes and procedures that can be meaningfully digitised, which creates freedom for the important thing in our business: the personal interview. 

INTERNATIONALITY

The world is growing together faster and faster. Distances are no longer obstacles. And most of our customers are international companies with a large presence in the DACH region and the BeNeLux countries or their headquarters or a large branch office in Germany.

This is the reason why we have positioned ourselves internationally from the beginning - with locations in Shanghai and Cape Town.

AGILITY

Agility is for us the highest form of adaptability of a company. This means that we as a company strive to anticipate things as early as possible. We do not just react to framework conditions, we also want to learn constantly. We are innovative and share our knowledge with you so you can benefit. Agility is an essential factor in all of this for maintaining competitiveness. Both yours and ours!

THE NELEX TEAM

The NELEX founding team consists of three experienced HR consultants
who have acquired their tools in various HR consulting firms.

Karsten Berge, Executive Board

Born 1963

  • Karsten Berge is a business graduate who studied business administration with a focus on strategic planning and marketing as well as business informatics at the University of Cologne, in London and in St. Etienne.
  • With about 30 years of experience in the IT and telecommunications industry, Berge has excellent contacts at the executive levels of major software and IT companies, consulting companies and many large and medium-sized companies in various industries.
  • He began his career as a consultant at the IT consulting firm Ploenzke, and later as an account manager at General Electric IS, before continuing his career as key account manager and sales manager in the large customer segment at o.tel.o. He then built up the German office of the US start-up company StorageNetworks – one of the first players in the SaaS area. Prior to founding SearchConsult in 2006, Berge was managing director of VIA net.works GmbH.
  • In 2006, Karsten Berge founded the recruitment consulting firm SearchConsult GmbH with a focus on the IT and digitalisation industry. With the firm’s clear focus on their own Ident and Research, SearchConsult quickly grew to 50 employees, making it one of the largest recruitment consulting firms. In 2015, Karsten Berge sold his shares as the majority shareholder to the listed Allgeier Group.
  • With NELEX AG, Berge and his team have already been awarded 5 stars several times by WirtschaftsWoche as the best HR consultancy in the categories "Digitalisation" and "IT" as well as "Consulting/Professional Services". In addition, NELEX has also been ranked several times as the top personnel service provider in the "Executive Search" category by FOCUS magazine.

Alexander Wolfschaffner, Director

Born 1988

  • Alexander Wolfschaffner studied business administration in Salzburg, Austria from 2009 to 2012 with a focus on general management and leadership as well as human resources. He graduated in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree.
  • His first and formative position was at SearchConsult from August 2012 to December 2018, where he quickly made a career and took on responsibility for the team at an early stage. As Principal, he led a team of executive search experts and gained deep expertise in the field of direct searches and strategic HR development.
  • Today, he uses his in-depth knowledge of executive searches to attract executives and specialists, drawing on a broad, resilient network of contacts.
  • His clients include various owner-managed companies as well as the upper-class of mid-sized companies in the software and IT sectors, management consultancy, mechanical and plant engineering, trade and e-commerce, chemical and process engineering and automotive suppliers.

Lars Fricke, Director

Born 1984

  • Lars Fricke studied law and economics from 2006 to 2012 with a focus on business and labour law at the Ernst-Moritz-Arndt University in Greifswald.
  • From November 2012 until the end of 2015, he worked as a consultant for an owner-managed recruitment consultancy with a focus on retail and e-commerce.
  • In September 2015, Fricke then moved to SearchConsult as a senior consultant and team leader with a focus on retail and e-commerce in a senior position. By the end of 2018, he also took over the field of cyber security.
  • Lars Fricke has many years of relevant professional experience in the field of executive searches and direct searches with a focus on IT, technology and digitisation.
  • So he brings with him an extremely extensive and, above all, resilient candidate network in these areas. This applies in particular to executives and management roles.
  • His clients included a variety of owner-managed companies as well as the upper-class of mid-sized companies and groups from the trade and e-commerce sectors, management consultancy, IT, manufacturing and the automotive supply industry.

Melina Brandstetter. Associate Partner

  • Melina Brandstetter graduated with a degree in Business Administration with a focus on Business Communication and Business Psychology from the International School of Management in Dortmund, as well as from Bond University in Australia.

  • She has extensive and relevant professional experience in the field of Executive Search and Direct Search, with a focus on IT, technology, and digitalization. She brings a strong candidate network of IT executives and managers.

  • In 2017, Melina Brandstetter started as a freelancer in personnel consulting and since 2020 has been a Managing Partner at Brook Valley, where she supports companies in scaling their digital business models.

  • Her clients include mid-sized companies in the trade, process industry, and manufacturing, chemistry & pharmaceuticals sectors, as well as consulting firms.

Dr. Wolfgang Rothe, Associate Partner

  • Dr. Wolfgang Rothe looks back on several years of experience in the telecommunications, manufacturing and utilities industries, including at Mannesmann, Vodafone, AtosOrigin and Ista.

  • As CIO, he gained profound professional know-how and has since then built up a resilient network of international industry decision-makers.
  • Since 2008 Dr. Rothe has been active in executive search for specialists and executives and fills key positions in the IT, technology and digitalization environment.
  • Wolfgang Rothe completed his physics studies in Bonn and received his doctorate as Dr. rer. nat. at the RWTH in Aachen. During a doctoral period, he worked as a scientist at the Max Planck Institute for Iron Research in Düsseldorf.
  • His clients include medium-sized companies, ICT service providers and consulting firms.

Claus Hartman, Associate Partner

  • Claus Hartman graduated from Wichita State University in the USA with a degree in International Business and Entrepreneurship. Subsequently, he founded a consulting company in Chicago and Düsseldorf, which assisted US companies in their internationalization.

  • Later, Claus Hartmann was appointed to the board of directors of a Ploenzke investment with a focus on Y2K conversion and M&A program management. His further career led him to positions as Regional Manager at Day Software AG (today Adobe) and Director Corporate Business Development & Sales at Pironet NDH AG (today CANCOM).

  • With over 30 years of professional experience, he founded Hartmann & Company GmbH, specializing in filling management positions in industries regulated by the German Federal Network Agency. 

  • He enjoys sharing his extensive expertise in convergence markets, BNetzA-regulated industries, retail and healthcare with clients. Additionally, he is involved as an advisor and coach for startups, as well as pro bono in humanitarian foundations for Ukraine aid and (niche) competitive sports.Dr. Wolfgang Rothe looks back on several years of experience in the telecommunications, manufacturing and utilities industries, including at Mannesmann, Vodafone, AtosOrigin and Ista.

Janina Höck, Executive Assistant | Head of Operations & HR

  • Since completing her studies at TH Köln in 2009, Janina Höck's career path has been characterized by valuable experiences in various industries. Prior to joining NELEX, she worked as an Executive Assistant for an international group of companies in the mechanical engineering sector and supported the establishment of the new company location in Cologne.

  • Since 2020 Janina Höck is the main contact for NELEX’ board, management as well as cooperation partners. She is responsible for topics in administration, operations, and HR.

  • In 2023, she completed the certificate course as HR Specialist (IHK Cologne) with a focus on HR Management, HR Development as well as Recruiting.

AbdelIlah El Goubi, Principal

  • Abelllah El Goubi is an expert in Executive Search with many years of professional experience. His consulting focus is on filling challenging leadership positions in IT Technology, Strategy, and SAP world, for national and international companies. 

  • His many years of experience in executive search have enabled him to maintain close and trusting relationships and a resilient network of contacts with top executives in various industries.

  • In addition, his multiple language skills are particularly valuable, enabling him to successfully navigate global environments and find customized solutions for our clients.

  • Abelllah El Goubi serves both well-known mid-sized companies and international corporations for NELEX.

Katja Kursawe, Principal

  • Katja Kursawe brings more than 25 years of experience in the areas of IT, digitization, technology and consulting. 

  • After her studies, she gained valuable experience as an internal sales manager for an IT service provider and then spent more than ten years as the managing director of a management consultancy with an IT and digitization focus for medium-sized industrial companies. 

  • In 2011, she moved to a respected international executive search recruitment consultancy with a focus on IT, logistics and telecommunications and joined the NELEX team in 2019.

  • With her extensive expertise and broad network, Katja Kursawe is the ideal contact at NELEX for filling key positions in IT, technology and digitalization, across all disciplines. Her expertise spans a wide range of industries in the industrial, commercial and service sectors.

Nicole Pelser, Consultant

  • Nicole Pelser began her professional career as an event manager and then made valuable contributions to various major events as an assistant project manager. She then decided to study Business Administration at Heinrich Heine University in Düsseldorf, majoring in Corporate Management.

  • Since January 2022, she i working in Executive Search at NELEX. Her areas of expertise include IT infrastructure, Cyber Security, and E-Commerce.

  • Nicole Pelser manages a broad spectrum of clients for NELEX, including owner-managed companies, renowned mid-sized companies, national and international enterprises, and even public sector bodies.
     

Alexandra Schartner, Consultant

  • Alexandra Schartner completed her Bachelor's degree in International Business at Cologne Business School with a focus on HR Management and Leadership.

  • After successfully gaining initial experience in B2B sales, she decided to continue a career in Executive Search in 2022.

  • At NELEX, Alexandra Schartner is focusing on filling senior specialist and management positions, particularly in Software, IT, Retail and E-Commerce, as well as Mechanical Engineering since 2022.
     

Julius Bilski, Junior Consultant

  • Julius Bilski successfully completed his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration at the University of Siegen, followed by a Master's degree in HR Management at Fresenius University of Applied Sciences in Cologne.

  • In addition to his studies, Julius Bilski gained initial experience in Headhunting as well as People & Culture Management at a digital agency.

  • At NELEX, Julius Bilski is focusing on filling senior specialist and management positions, particularly in the fields of Cleantech, E-Commerce and medium-sized System Houses since 2023.

Lukas von der Heide, Junior Consultant

  • Lukas von der Heide successfully completed his degree in Social Sciences with a focus on Change Management and Social Psychology at the University of Cologne.

  • During his studies, he gained initial experience in identity and research in the field of executive search.

  • Since 2023, Lukas von der Heide has been focusing on the international placement of senior and executive positions at NELEX, particularly in the areas of Cleantech, Mechanical Engineering, Tech and Software.

Julius Bilski, Junior Consultant

  • After successfully completing her apprenticeship in wholesale and foreign trade management, Anna Paffendorf began her dual Bachelor's degree in General Management at the Cologne Business School (CBS) in 2023 - with NELEX as her internship partner.

  • At NELEX, Anna Paffendorf is focusing on filling senior specialist and management positions, particularly in IT, as well as Retail and E-Commerce since 2023.