Founded in 1945, Kienbaum is Germany’s first consulting firm and a prominent player in leadership and management consulting. With 26 offices globally, Kienbaum has a strong presence not only in Germany and Europe but also in the Americas and Asia. Its mission remains steadfast: to give people and organizations a future.
Kienbaum Japan, established in 2006, specializes in integrating corporate cultures and managing talent across regions. The company supports clients in every aspect related to “people and organizations,” focusing mainly on German and European companies operating in Japan and Asia, as well as Japanese companies doing business in Germany and Europe — a focus that dates back to 2001.
As Managing Director Etsuji Suzuki explained, “The greatest challenge for German companies in Japan is acquiring and retaining talent while managing communication between German headquarters and Japanese subsidiaries, and vice versa for Japanese companies in Europe.” By leveraging its expertise in both German and Japanese markets, Kienbaum Japan emphasizes technical skills and intercultural communication.
In the field of executive search, Kienbaum Japan operates exclusively and is one of the few firms in Japan that conducts retainer-based searches, as opposed to success-based searches. With this method, fees are incurred from the start, making it especially suited for executive and niche market searches. This ensures a clear commitment from both the consultants and the firm to finding the right candidate. Consultants represent the client throughout the entire search process, from identifying candidates to signing contracts, while providing detailed insights into company culture and management styles.
We are not just an executive search firm; we cover a broad range of HR (human resources) topics, including management diagnostics, assessments, and compensation and performance management systems.
Etsuji Suzuki, Managing Director of Kienbaum Japan
“We are not just an executive search firm; we cover a broad range of HR (human resources) topics, including management diagnostics, assessments, and compensation and performance management systems,” Suzuki emphasized. “Understanding the German ‘mittelstand’ — midsized, often family-owned companies — and ‘hidden champions’ — niche market leaders with global success — is crucial for managing cross-cultural challenges. We are proud to support these companies, which form the backbone of the German economy. Kienbaum works with clients of all sizes, leveraging our deep understanding of the mittelstand and hidden champions to excel in Japan-Germany business relations.”
