Creating a strategic role
A new BU, a new market, a function to structure: first define the right profile, then find it.
Specialist recruitment firm · Smart Hiring
Finding — and above all keeping — your rare pearl.
Businessful Minds recruits your key positions in general/BU management and in the sales, finance and HR functions. Our difference: we have held these roles ourselves, in your industry, as operational executives and Executive Committee members.
- 95%client success, without triggering the guarantee
- 1.5 monthson average to the job offer
- Up to12 months“Satisfaction or Replacement” guarantee
- Up to70%of our fees on results
They trust us
Why Businessful Minds
A failed key hire is costly.
€30–150kestimated average cost of a failed hire in France¹
213%of annual salary: the potential cost of a mis-hire in a leadership role²
What our clients often experience
With a generalist recruitment firm
- CVs screened by people who have never held your role or worked in your industry as operational executives.
- Limited choice among the candidates presented.
- A guarantee that, at best, ends with the probation period.
When hiring on your own
- Limited time and resources to headhunt rare profiles who are already employed.
- A talent pool limited to active job seekers, with no peer assessment.
- No guarantee if the new hire leaves early.
What we bring
Triple expertise — we have held your role, in your industry and your context.
A dedicated partner — every shortlisted candidate has been met and assessed by the partner in charge. No delegation.
A real choice — at least 3 to 4 carefully selected candidates, including “hidden” profiles.
Speed — 1.5 months on average to the job offer.
Security — “Satisfaction or Replacement” guarantee for up to 12 months; 95% success without it ever being used.
¹ Manpower, HR Voice, Opensourcing · ² E. Appelbaum and R. Milkman, cited by the AESC — How much does a bad hire cost? · Bad hire cost calculator
The market in numbers
Hiring a key executive in 2026: what the studies say.
49%
of French companies that hired managers in 2025 reported recruitment difficulties.
Apec, 2026#1
difficulty in 2025: applications that miss expectations, ahead of a lack of candidates.
Apec, 2026≈ 12 wks
average time to recruit a manager in France (2023), up from 9 weeks in 2020.
Apec70%
of professionals are not actively job hunting: they never read your job ads.
LinkedIn Talent TrendsA recovery in executive hiring in 2026 could revive competition between employers (Apec, Q1 2026 barometer). The best people, already in post, are won through direct approach.
Our first differentiator
Triple expertise: where the rare pearl is found.
We recruit at the intersection of three areas of expertise we have practised for more than 20 years, with 40 years of combined in-role experience.
Functions
- General management, P&L and BU
- Commercial & Sales
- Finance
- HR
- Management
Contexts
- Growth
- Performance acceleration
- Turnaround
- Transformation
FunctionIndustryContextrare pearl
When to call on us
Do you recognise one of these situations?
Confidential replacement
An executive or key manager must be replaced without the market, or the team, knowing.
Fund entry, LBO, acquisition
The new business plan requires a CFO, sales director or general manager who can deliver fast.
Turnaround, transformation
You need someone who has already been through this kind of situation, not just a good CV.
Sales acceleration
Ambitious growth targets: you are looking for the sales director or key account managers who will make the difference.
A hire that is not working out
Ads with no results, disappointing candidates, a new hire who left too soon: time to change approach.
Our specialty
The hires that matter, in the contexts that matter.
01
Growth
Business plans, sales strategy, customer experience and journey, omnichannel distribution, acquisition and retention, revenue management, new markets, external growth.
02
Performance acceleration
Commercial, financial and organisational performance: new tools, management models and KPIs, efficiency and productivity.
03
Turnaround
Restructuring and recovery, interim management, optimisation, outsourcing, refocusing, divestments, cost reduction, redundancy plans.
04
Transformation
Reorganisations, new business models, change management, digital transformation, mergers and acquisitions, LBOs, value creation, ERP.
What sets us apart
Seven concrete commitments to our clients.
Triple expertise
Function, industry and context: we have held your role, or the one you are hiring for.
Security
95% client success, without any use of our “Satisfaction or Replacement” guarantee.
Peace of mind
“Satisfaction or Replacement” guarantee for up to 12 months, triggered in fewer than 5% of cases.
Efficiency
1.5 months on average to recruit your rare pearl, from assignment to job offer.
Choice
At least 3 to 4 qualified candidates presented per position.
Personal touch
Every candidate is met by the partner in charge, with no delegation.
Responsiveness
Regular reporting throughout the assignment and comprehensive deliverables at every stage.
Your peace of mind and satisfaction are our priority. Our clients are our best ambassadors.
Comparison
Four ways to hire for a key position.
| In-house recruitment | Generalist firm | Executive search | Businessful Minds | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access to employed (passive) candidates | Limited | Partial | Yes | Yes, direct approach |
| Assessment by a peer who held the role | Rarely | Rarely | Sometimes | Always |
| Your contact | HR / manager | Consultant, often junior | Senior partner | Partner, former Executive Committee member |
| Choice of candidates | Depends on ads | Variable | Shortlist | At least 3 to 4 candidates |
| Time frame | ≈ 12 weeks on average (Apec) | Variable | Often 3 to 6 months | 1.5 months on average to the offer |
| Guarantee | None | Often limited | Variable | Up to 12 months |
| Fee model | Internal cost | Success-based | Non-refundable retainers | Up to 70% on success |
Indicative comparison based on usual market practice; each firm has its own terms.
Businessful Minds in numbers
Results you can rely on.
40 yearsof combined operational experience in the roles and industries we recruit for
95%client success on assignments, without triggering the guarantee
Up to12 months“Satisfaction or Replacement” guarantee after the start date (depending on the assignment)
1.5 monthson average, from signing the assignment to the job offer
3 to 4qualified candidates presented per position as a minimum, for a real choice
Our method
A rigorous process, led end-to-end by a partner.
1
Analyse the need
- In-depth scoping session with you (45 min)
- Assignment qualification grid
- Job description drafting
2
Identify targets
- Market and target mapping
- Direct approach, including “hidden” profiles
- A network built over 20 years in operational roles
3
Assess and present
- One-to-one interviews led by the partner
- Assessments and reference checks
- Candidate reports: summary and SWOT
4
Support and follow up
- Regular progress reporting
- Support through to the offer and onboarding
- Post-assignment satisfaction survey
An assignment, in practice
Six weeks, on average, to the offer.
- Week 0
Scoping meeting, tailor-made proposal, assignment launched within about a week.
- Week 1
Job description and qualification grid agreed with you; market mapping.
- Weeks 1 to 4
Direct approach, one-to-one interviews led by the partner, assessments; regular reporting.
- Weeks 4 to 5
At least 3 to 4 candidates presented, each with a full report: summary, skills, SWOT.
- Weeks 5 to 6
Your interviews, reference checks, support through to the offer and acceptance.
- After the hire
Onboarding follow-up, satisfaction survey, “Satisfaction or Replacement” guarantee for up to 12 months.
Indicative schedule: 1.5 months on average from signing the assignment to the job offer.
Our model
A risk-free partnership that drives your ROI.
Tailor-made
An offer built around your context, challenges, constraints and objectives. Never generic.
Success-based
Up to 70% of fees paid on success*. Highly competitive value for money and peace of mind, with a fast ROI.
Guaranteed
“Satisfaction or Replacement” guarantee for up to one year after the selected candidate’s first day**.
* Excluding administrative and sourcing fees. ** Guarantee period depends on the assignment.
Your contacts
We have been in your shoes.
Before becoming recruiters, we held your role, or the one you are hiring for. As Executive Committee members, we have lived your challenges, constraints and needs. In your industry.
Nicolas Martino
Managing Partner
20+ years in general, sales and BU management — Executive Committee member
- General management and P&L: building and growing a technology company, running profit centres of up to €250m revenue
- Sales leadership: strategy and offers, sales organisation, leading teams of up to 100 people, KPI-driven management
- Key accounts and international: negotiating strategic deals above $10m, leading account manager teams across 45 countries
- Advising general management: revenue growth, cost reduction, reorganisation
Contexts
Industries
Christelle Martino
Partner
25+ years in finance — Company Secretary and CFO — Executive Committee member
- Company secretariat and finance leadership: finance, legal, HR, logistics and IT under one responsibility, on the Executive Committee
- Performance management: management control, reporting, budget and cash, from manufacturing site to group level
- Risk control: internal audit, financial audit, internal control and reliable financial information
- Structuring operations: LBOs, external growth and divestments, banking relationships and financing
Contexts
Industries
Our commitments
Firm-wide ethics, for clients and candidates alike.
Confidentiality
Your projects, your organisation and candidates’ identities are handled with full discretion, including for sensitive replacements.
Respect for candidates
Every candidate receives feedback, whatever the final decision and whatever stage their application ends at. Your employer brand comes out of the process stronger.
Transparency
Regular reporting, complete deliverables, a frank view on every profile, including points of attention.
Long-term commitment
We follow the onboarding and stay at your side for the full guarantee period.
In their words
What our clients remember.
I never work with headhunters. Businessful Minds’ in-depth expertise — in our industry and its ecosystem as well as in the roles to be filled — and above all the advisory approach that comes with it, convinced me to take the plunge. Hand-picked candidates, smooth and transparent communication and highly professional follow-up convinced me to do it again.
A sharp understanding of our business and context, genuine first-hand experience of our industry and its roles, the ability to guide and advise us wisely before and during the assignment and, of course, the quality of the candidates presented and of the deliverables: that is a sample of the value Businessful Minds brought us.
One discovery and scoping meeting, a tailor-made service proposal, and the assignment was launched within a week. The selected candidates were hired in 4 weeks (HR Manager) and 6 weeks (BU Director). Clarity, efficiency, performance and great satisfaction sum up our experience with Businessful Minds.
Leading a business in deep transformation, I chose Businessful Minds to recruit our new CFO. Beyond the quality of the candidate hired, what struck me was their clear understanding and knowledge of our industry and of the role’s requirements, the ease of our exchanges and their professionalism.
They trust us
References in each of our industries.
Tourism, Leisure, Travel & Transport
See industryConstruction & Real Estate
See industryIT & Technology
See industryRetail & Distribution
See industryLuxury & Cosmetics
See industryServices, Consulting & Legal Professions
See industryInsights
Analysis, guides and tools for your key hires.
Bad hire cost calculator
Estimate the order of magnitude of the financial risk of a mis-hire in a key position, based on published benchmarks.
Use the toolHiring for a key position: the 15-point checklist
What to check before, during and after hiring an executive or key manager. Tick as you go.
Use the toolSales leadership · 6 min read
Hiring a sales director: 7 mistakes to avoid
The hire that matters most for growth is also one of the riskiest. The traps to avoid.
ReadFinance leadership · 6 min read
Hiring a CFO in an LBO: what funds expect
Reporting, cash, covenants, value creation: the profile of a CFO who succeeds under LBO.
ReadFAQ
Your questions, answered.
Tools
Hiring for a key position: the 15-point checklist
What to check before, during and after hiring an executive or key manager. Tick as you go.
Use the toolWhich positions does Businessful Minds recruit for?
For sales, finance and HR functions, we recruit at every level, from operational roles up to C-level Management Committee members, including middle management. We also recruit heads of business units, subsidiaries and verticals. We work mainly in Tourism and Travel, Construction and Real Estate, IT, Retail, Luxury and Cosmetics, and business services.
How long does it take to recruit with Businessful Minds?
On average 1.5 months from signing the assignment to the job offer. An assignment is usually launched within a week of the scoping meeting.
What guarantee do you offer?
A “Satisfaction or Replacement” guarantee for up to 12 months after the start date, depending on the assignment. It has been triggered in fewer than 5% of assignments: 95% of our assignments succeed without it.
How much does a recruitment with Businessful Minds cost?
Our fees are proportional to the annual compensation of the role and tailored to your context. Up to 70% is paid on success, excluding administrative and sourcing fees, and the guarantee of up to 12 months protects your investment.
How many candidates do you present?
At least 3 to 4 qualified candidates per position, all met and assessed personally by the partner in charge, with a full report (summary, skills assessment, SWOT, references).
How are you different from a generalist firm or an executive search firm?
Our partners have held the roles they recruit for, in your industries, as executives and Executive Committee members. You get the seniority of an executive search firm with the speed, flexibility and guarantee of a specialist firm.
Where do you operate?
Primarily in France, as well as Belgium, Switzerland and Luxembourg. We work in French and English.
A key hire to launch?
A first conversation to understand your context and challenges, followed by a tailor-made proposal.