About Us
We partner with category-defining companies to build leadership teams as they scale and evolve.
Our story
Up was founded in 2008 with a clear ambition: to disrupt the executive search market.
Traditional firms offered either rigour or speed, rarely both, and treated leadership hiring as a transaction rather than the strategic decision it is. Up was built to change that.
From day one, we partnered with digitally native businesses scaling at pace, companies that needed a more thoughtful, creative and relationship-led way to build leadership teams.
Over the past two decades, we’ve become deeply embedded in Europe’s high-growth ecosystem, initially in digital and technology, and then increasingly across a broad range of sectors. We’ve supported the leadership journeys of many of Europe’s most successful companies, from early scale-ups to global category leaders and listed businesses, as well as the investors behind them. As those founders, executives and investors have gone on to build new ventures, our network has evolved alongside them, extending well beyond our early roots.
Like the companies we work with, Up has also evolved: from a founder-led business into a scaled, partner-led firm. That journey gives us the perspective and empathy our clients value most in moments of change.
Now, as a new wave of technological disruption takes hold, we’re helping shape the next generation of category-defining businesses.
Who we are
We partner with organisations at varying stages of growth.
We build boards and senior leadership teams across all major functions, including CEO and General Management roles, Product and Technology, Commercial and Go-to-Market, Finance, Data, Operations and People.
Our footprint spans key European technology hubs including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Stockholm and Berlin.
Across these markets, we’ve built one of the deepest networks in the European ecosystem — connecting founders, operators, investors and board-level leaders.
Today, Up operates as a single integrated firm across Europe.
The Up way
The Up Way
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Our methodology is rigorous and structured.
We calibrate early, testing assumptions against real candidates from the outset. We surface trade-offs openly and refine the brief as insight develops.
We move quickly, stay close to our clients, and adapt in real time - always focused on securing the best leadership outcome, not protecting a process.
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For nearly two decades we have worked across business life-cycles, from disruptive VC-backed start-ups and PE-owned growth companies through to global corporations. Our reach is broad and international; our network transcends growth and transformation.
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Our work is defined by senior partner-led delivery at every stage. Each search is led from the outset by experienced partners, bringing intellectual rigour to precisely define what “great” looks like in context. That same level of senior judgement is applied throughout the evaluation process, ensuring depth, consistency and quality of insight. We maintain direct, candid dialogue with founders, boards and investors, and provide continuity from the first conversation through to final stages—delivering a considered, high-touch experience aligned to the expectations of senior stakeholders.
Testimonials
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Lodgify
We found a purple unicorn in Barcelona.
That’s the ultimate measure of success. A 10/10 highly collaborative and rigorous process throughout.
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Mytheresa
The Up Group supported us across multiple senior hires in different geographies
combining pace, accountability and deep sector insight to deliver consistently strong results—even under challenging conditions. They stayed one step ahead throughout, quickly refining the brief, maintaining exceptional candidate quality, and acting as a true extension of our team.
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Soldo
The Up team are a joy to work with.
A very thorough evaluation of the market was conducted, and I therefore felt very confident in making a decision on a great hire.
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Hunza G
Working with Up on our CEO search was a genuinely positive experience from start to finish.
The team was thoughtful, organised and handled the transition with great tact. The candidate quality was outstanding —Krishna is exactly what the business needs.
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Personio
The team was very available,
really listened to feedback, and worked very hard on gender diversity.
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Trustpilot
Up are real standout-outs
in terms of their knowledge of the tech ecosystem. This is their reputation, and the reality does not disappoint.
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Trusted House Sitters
I’m delighted with both the outcome and how the search was managed.
The process was strong, well-paced and communicated clearly throughout. The team's knowledge of the talent pool really stood out - they helped refine the brief, steered us thoughtfully when we introduced constraints, and offered invaluable advice on package and positioning.
Our Capabilities