Executive and leadership recruitment in the Netherlands

We help international companies find directors, business leaders and senior managers for long-term success. We handle the search from start to finish, with the care these appointments deserve.

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Executive search is a different kind of recruitment

The strongest senior candidates are rarely on the market. Executive search entails approaching them directly and opening the right conversation at the right moment.

At Adams, we offer executive and leadership hiring as a dedicated service, separate from our standard recruitment process. Each assignment is led by a senior consultant who does the market mapping and makes the approaches personally.

We’re well placed to do this for international companies in the Netherlands. We understand the Dutch market, we know the talent landscape, and we have the network to open doors that a standard process can’t reach.

Why choose Adams as your executive search partner?

Executive search consultants

The credibility of the person making the approach matters at this level. Our recruiters have extensive experience hiring for director-level and senior leadership roles across the Netherlands. If your company is not yet known here, we approach candidates on your behalf with a name the market already recognises and act as your brand ambassadors.

Thorough intake for every role

Before every search, we take a deep dive into your business, not only the role: your market, your competitors, the leadership team and the expectations from headquarters. We also agree on what the senior hire needs to deliver in the first year, so that we are assessing candidates against your reality.

Expertise in the Dutch market

We have worked in the Dutch market for nearly thirty years and helped international companies hire their executive and leadership teams here. We can advise you on talent availability, competitor organisations relevant to your search and local best practices on salaries and benefits, among many other things.

Honest advice

If the role description seems ambiguous, the job title is misleading, or the salary band sits below the market, we will tell you in week one and suggest what to change. Receiving this advice sooner, rather than later, can make a difference to the efficacy of the search.

Common reasons clients work with us

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Replacing a senior leader

Including confidential situations where discretion is essential

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Succession planning

Identifying the right person before the vacancy becomes urgent

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The first senior hire in the Netherlands

Country manager or division lead for a new market entry

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M&A or restructuring

Leadership needs that come with transactions or organisational change

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Sensitive searches

Assignments that can’t be advertised or run through standard channels

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Building out a leadership team

Senior roles that need to work together, filled as a coordinated search rather than one at a time

Our fees and payment structure

We only calculate our charges based on the full annual salary. We do not include bonuses or other benefits in our calculation. Our fee level is transparent from the start — 25% to 27% based on the annual salary.

New clients

For new clients, we ask for an initial payment to guarantee the search and then a final payment when we have successfully placed the selected candidate.

Regular clients

For clients we work with on a regular basis, we only ask for exclusivity as a dedicated recruitment partner and we do not ask for a retainer.

The team behind your search

David Gibbons

British-born and based in the Netherlands for over 20 years, David is Commercial Director at Adams and leads executive and senior-level searches. His background spans recruitment, business development, key account management, and team leadership — giving him a commercially grounded understanding of what organisations really need when hiring at the top. He builds his network through direct relationships and is the person you'll speak with from brief to close.

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Florin Buduroi

Co-owner and Managing Director of Adams since 2019. Florin participates in senior assignments where his knowledge of the Dutch market and his long-standing client relationships can add direct value. With 15+ years in agency recruitment in the Netherlands, he brings strategic perspective to complex mandates.

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Companies we have helped

“From the outset, I felt that David had a strong grasp of our needs and vision. He demonstrated a deep understanding of the type of leadership and experience we were looking for.”

Claudio Lobosco, Director New Markets Strategy at intelligentfood Schweiz AG

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Resources to get you started

Planning a senior hire in the Netherlands?

Whether you have a vacancy right now or are thinking further ahead, we’re happy to talk through your situation — with no pressure and no obligation. All conversations are confidential by default. Fill out the form or give us a call +31 (0) 20 5800 340

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