Together with five other owner-managed executive search firms, we have founded the Corporate Affairs Search Alliance (CASA). Companies can thus access the best executives worldwide and receive support in currently eight countries. We support candidates in gaining a foothold in these countries.
CASA is an association of like-minded owner-managed executive search boutiques. Each CASA member is a leader in its respective home market. We share the same values and high professional standards. To put it in other words: we are friends who enjoy the privilege of working together.
Our joint mission is: “Make Corporate Affairs better”. In other countries, the corporate affairs function has long been established; in German-speaking countries, this integrated approach is gaining more and more importance. To further develop the field, we rely on the exchange with our international CASA partners.
Here is a brief introduction of selected heads of CASA member companies – with their respective viewpoints of corporate affairs.
“Because of the increase of global topics and issues, companies are being more and more involved in reputation matters which are influenced by politics and regulations. That is why the role of public affairs and legal/regulatory can’t be separated functions and need to be integrated into Corporate Communications, which is then evolving to Corporate Affairs.”
“The role of Corporate Affairs is very well established in the UK. But: The challenge is that most CEOs have not seen great Corporate Affairs so far. So there’s also a need to educate, provide some models and blueprints, and ultimately empower other executives to judge better the difference between ‘great’ corporate affairs and the ‘mediocre’ version.”
“The function in Ireland is not as mature in other markets however since Covid, organisations are definitely leaning in on the Corporate Affairs function like never before and I have seen some serious growth across this function in Ireland in the last few years.”
“The Corporate Affairs Director is responsible for promoting and protecting the reputation and image of a business across all stakeholders. They are responsible for building the narrative for the business and acting as the eyes and ears of the business in assessing risk and opportunity from a reputational perspective.”
“So far, the Head of Corporate Affairs roles show up either in industries that are highly regulated (utilities) or where the government is a major customer (healthcare, for example). In the majority of those situations, the company is a very large scale organization that has a significant amount of complexity and resources.“
“Germany might be at the beginning of a journey, but the need to change the perception of Corporate Affairs is obvious. Hurdles on the way are grown structures and established processes – as usual when it comes zu change. To break these down, it takes the will and the full support of the top management.“
Düsseldorf is home to PRCC Personalberatung’s headquarters. From here, Managing Directors Thomas Lüdeke and Philip Müller, as well as their team, support companies of all sizes and industries in being successful in a changing world.
Our Berlin location is more than just an office. With its loft atmosphere and rooftop terrace overlooking the Brandenburg Gate, it is a real meeting place for clients and candidates. Location manager Kathrin Deimann oversees the public affairs business.
In Switzerland, PRCCs primarily serve clients from the financial sector, the pharmaceutical industry, and the food sector – but not exclusively.
In Austria, PRCC works for clients in the real estate industry, the financial sector, trade, the public sector, and the energy sector, among others.
In the Dutch market we operate with our partners from Herman Rutgers. The team around Petra Herman, Francine Rutgers and Nelieke Wismans offers executive search and interim search.
In Ireland, we rely on the cooperation with our CASA partner addison. The search boutique led by Susie Farrell specialises in corporate affairs and marketing.
In France, CASA member Kim Johnson and her company Exeter Search are the first point of contact for companies looking for executives in corporate affairs, marketing and investor relations.
The UK is the hunting ground of Ithaca Partners. Founder Alex Gordon Shute and her team specialise in the search for corporate affairs directors.
In the US, Patino Associates operate “The Communications Executive Search Firm”. Mike Patino and his team are based in Washington D.C.…
…and in San Francisco. The consultancy also has an office in Annapolis, Maryland. Patino Associates places executives in corporate communications, public relations, internal communications, public affairs and investor relations.
