Excellence in consulting, understanding and challenging placements
XELLENTO…
… is an owner-managed executive search boutique with a global network and a cross-sectoral scope. We advise national and international corporations, SMEs as well as executive and non-executive boards in filling vacant positions on top-tier management level. Our work is strictly limited to exclusive searches and direct approach to candidates.
Our clients …
… value and appreciate our professional and unrestrained focus on their projects and our emphasis on quality and sustainability. We adapt our processes to suit client needs and provide forward-looking advice.
Our candidates …
… are subject to a goal-driven and careful selection process which focusses on competencies and personality. We take care in matching a candidate’s life plan with the client’s requirements, while accompanying each candidate individually along the way.
Dr. Matthias Kestler
Lawyer, Specialist Tax Lawyer (in 2000),
Tax Accountant (in 2000),
Dipl.-Volkswirt and Dipl.-Kaufmann
Dr. Matthias Kestler started his career in 1992 at the Repititorium Hemmer and the professional services firm Haarmann, Hemmelrath & Partner (company law, tax law, M&A, restructuring, private equity and venture capital). Subsequently he joined Jones Day, a globally leading law firm. Thereafter, he moved to the corporate side where he held different positions including a several-year-long tenure as ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG’s General Counsel.
Ultimately, his longstanding experience in the field of human resources laid the foundation for his transition to executive search in 2007. In cooperation with Dieter Rickert and Rick Fulghum he founded Rat.Haus from which the successor company XELLENTO arose.
Despite describing himself as a ‘generalist’, Matthias Kestler’s expertise as a search consultant is rooted in his network and specialist knowledge.
Focus of his work:
Appointment of supervisory boards, advisory boards and industry experts.
Appointment of board members, managing directors (and C-1) in all industries
Private equity, portfolio companies of PE, public limited companies, cooperatives, foundations
Medium-sized companies, family businesses and family offices
Challenges he accompanies:
Restructurings and turnarounds
Diversity, digitalisation, sustainability
Contact:
Telephone: +49 (89) 620 30 88 – 11
Email: mkestler@xellento.com
Dr. Matthias Kestler
Lawyer, Specialist Tax Lawyer (in 2000),
Tax Accountant (in 2000),
Dipl.-Volkswirt and Dipl.-Kaufmann
Dr. Matthias Kestler started his career in 1992 at the Repititorium Hemmer and the professional services firm Haarmann, Hemmelrath & Partner (company law, tax law, M&A, restructuring, private equity and venture capital). Subsequently he joined Jones Day, a globally leading law firm. Thereafter, he moved to the corporate side where he held different positions including a several-year-long tenure as ProSiebenSat.1 Media AG’s General Counsel.
Ultimately, his longstanding experience in the field of human resources laid the foundation for his transition to executive search in 2007. In cooperation with Dieter Rickert and Rick Fulghum he founded Rat.Haus from which the successor company XELLENTO arose.
Despite describing himself as a ‘generalist’, Matthias Kestler’s expertise as a search consultant is rooted in his network and specialist knowledge.
Focus of his work:
Appointment of supervisory boards, advisory boards and industry experts.
Appointment of board members, managing directors (and C-1) in all industries
Private equity, portfolio companies of PE, public limited companies, cooperatives, foundations
Medium-sized companies, family businesses and family offices
Challenges he accompanies:
Restructurings and turnarounds
Diversity, digitalisation, sustainability
Contact:
Telephone: +49 (89) 620 30 88 – 11
Email: mkestler@xellento.com
Peter Alexander Rapp
After Peter Rapp obtained his marketing degree he started a successful career in both marketing and sales at different consumer goods companies (BASF Magnetics & Nike International). Subsequently, he held general management positions at Bertelsmann AG (RTL/BMG Entertainment) and Dressmaster GmbH, a sister-company of the Steilmann Group. Since 2004, Peter Rapp has dedicated his career to executive search. At Russell Reynolds Associates and Hofmann Consultants Executive Search he filled numerous top management positions.
The sum of his management experience across Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Sports, Fashion & Lifestyle, and Retail led to his consulting expertise and the hereto linked large number of searches. Due to an increase in digitalisation some of the aforementioned industries are currently experiencing dramatic changes. Peter Rapp has a close proximity to and a detailed knowledge of the associated challenges.
His background and skills allow him to understand different company structures and cultures quickly and accurately, thus being able to have an in-depth understanding of a client’s particular challenge.
Next to his strong and extensive network to companies and their decision makers Peter Rapp has a marked passion for people. He places great importance on availability and communication as well as going the extra mile for success.
His focus:
Fast Moving Consumer Goods
Sports, Fashion & Lifestyle
Media & Entertainment
Retail (bricks & mortar and e-commerce)
The challenges he helps clients solve include:
Multi-channel alignment of companies
Digitalization
Embedding the values of sustainability and
corporate social responsibility in companies
Customer experience management
Contact:
Telephone: +49 (89) 620 30 88 – 17
Email: prapp@xellento.com
Peter Alexander Rapp
After Peter Rapp obtained his marketing degree he started a successful career in both marketing and sales at different consumer goods companies (BASF Magnetics & Nike International). Subsequently, he held general management positions at Bertelsmann AG (RTL/BMG Entertainment) and Dressmaster GmbH, a sister-company of the Steilmann Group. Since 2004, Peter Rapp has dedicated his career to executive search. At Russell Reynolds Associates and Hofmann Consultants Executive Search he filled numerous top management positions.
The sum of his management experience across Fast Moving Consumer Goods, Sports, Fashion & Lifestyle, and Retail led to his consulting expertise and the hereto linked large number of searches. Due to an increase in digitalisation some of the aforementioned industries are currently experiencing dramatic changes. Peter Rapp has a close proximity to and a detailed knowledge of the associated challenges.
His background and skills allow him to understand different company structures and cultures quickly and accurately, thus being able to have an in-depth understanding of a client’s particular challenge.
Next to his strong and extensive network to companies and their decision makers Peter Rapp has a marked passion for people. He places great importance on availability and communication as well as going the extra mile for success.
His focus:
Fast Moving Consumer Goods
Sports, Fashion & Lifestyle
Media & Entertainment
Retail (bricks & mortar and e-commerce)
The challenges he helps clients solve include:
Multi-channel alignment of companies
Digitalization
Embedding the values of sustainability and
corporate social responsibility in companies
Customer experience management
Contact:
Telephone: +49 (89) 620 30 88 – 17
Email: prapp@xellento.com
Till Schöppe-Fries
Assessor iur.
Till Schöppe-Fries commenced his career as an in-house lawyer focused on bank supervision and capital market law at Trigon Wertpapierhandelsbank AG in Frankfurt prior to joining the international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. For a globally leading legal executive search consultancy he established the corporate lawyer business, hereby internationally recruiting lawyers for German and multinational companies across all hierarchies, including the General Counsel level. His clients ranged from corporations to family offices and private equity firms. Thereafter, Till concentrated on the placement of partners and teams in renowned national and international law firms; furthermore, he was responsible for setting-up a notable branch office in the field of legal recruitment. As managing director he held responsibility for the German business.
A pronounced problem awareness and the ability to put himself in his clients’ shoes are the hallmarks of Till’s modus operandi. Availability, speed and solution-focused actions are a matter of course for him. As a consultant, Till utilizes his expertise in corporate governance, legal and compliance issues cross-industry.
His focus:
Professional Services
Legal
Corporate Governance
Compliance
International
Private Equity
Family Offices
Family-owned enterprises
The challenges he helps clients to solve include:
Change Management
Restructuring and the setting-up of
international professional service firms
Digitalization in the legal field of business
Contact:
Telephone: +49 (89) 620 30 88 – 20
Email: tschoeppe@xellento.com
Till Schöppe-Fries
Assessor iur.
Till Schöppe-Fries commenced his career as an in-house lawyer focused on bank supervision and capital market law at Trigon Wertpapierhandelsbank AG in Frankfurt prior to joining the international law firm Norton Rose Fulbright. For a globally leading legal executive search consultancy he established the corporate lawyer business, hereby internationally recruiting lawyers for German and multinational companies across all hierarchies, including the General Counsel level. His clients ranged from corporations to family offices and private equity firms. Thereafter, Till concentrated on the placement of partners and teams in renowned national and international law firms; furthermore, he was responsible for setting-up a notable branch office in the field of legal recruitment. As managing director he held responsibility for the German business.
A pronounced problem awareness and the ability to put himself in his clients’ shoes are the hallmarks of Till’s modus operandi. Availability, speed and solution-focused actions are a matter of course for him. As a consultant, Till utilizes his expertise in corporate governance, legal and compliance issues cross-industry.
His focus:
Professional Services
Legal
Corporate Governance
Compliance
International
Private Equity
Family Offices
Family-owned enterprises
The challenges he helps clients to solve include:
Change Management
Restructuring and the setting-up of international professional service firms
Digitalization in the legal field of business
Contact:
Telephone: +49 (89) 620 30 88 – 20
Email: tschoeppe@xellento.com
Sascha Gerland
After studying business administration and training as a banker, Sascha Gerlands began his professional career as a human resource consultant with a focus on financial services at Hillreiner Consulting in Munich. There he was responsible for setting up the subsidiary “Hillreiner Consulting Limited” in London and subsequently worked as its CFO and COO. After Sascha Gerland’s appointment as Partner in 1998, he served as Managing Director of Hillreiner Consulting from 2009-2012. In 2012, he set up his own business as a human resource consultant. With more than 25 years of experience as an HR consultant in the financial services sector, he is a profound expert in the industry and a highly valued interlocutor for executives and specialists. Sascha Gerland is also a DBVC-certified Systemic Business Coach.
He distinguishes himself as a person with a high level of empathy, an excellent feel for people and a deep sense of loyalty and commitment. Thanks to his coaching experience, Sascha Gerland brings with him a strong understanding of systems.
Main focus of his work:
Financial services (banking, insurance, stock exchange, rating business, digital assets etc.)
ESG
Real estate
Challenging tasks he supervises:
Establishment and restructuring scenarios
ESG orientation of companies
Development of new asset classes and business models
Digitisation
Contact:
Phone: +49 (89) 620 30 88 – 23
E-mail: sgerland@xellento.com
Sascha Gerland
After studying business administration and training as a banker, Sascha Gerlands began his professional career as a human resource consultant with a focus on financial services at Hillreiner Consulting in Munich. There he was responsible for setting up the subsidiary “Hillreiner Consulting Limited” in London and subsequently worked as its CFO and COO. After Sascha Gerland’s appointment as Partner in 1998, he served as Managing Director of Hillreiner Consulting from 2009-2012. In 2012, he set up his own business as a human resource consultant. With more than 25 years of experience as an HR consultant in the financial services sector, he is a profound expert in the industry and a highly valued interlocutor for executives and specialists. Sascha Gerland is also a DBVC-certified Systemic Business Coach.
He distinguishes himself as a person with a high level of empathy, an excellent feel for people and a deep sense of loyalty and commitment. Thanks to his coaching experience, Sascha Gerland brings with him a strong understanding of systems.
Main focus of his work:
Financial services (banking, insurance, stock exchange, rating business, digital assets etc.)
ESG
Real estate
Challenging tasks he supervises:
Establishment and restructuring scenarios
ESG orientation of companies
Development of new asset classes and business models
Digitisation
Kai Horten
Dipl.-Ing. (Univ.) Aerospace technology
Kai Horten began his professional career in 1989 as an aviation technical officer, initially in flight operations for naval aviator helicopters, and later for an international armament cooperation in France.
After transferring from the German Armed Forces (reserve corvette captain) to industry, Kai Horten became Head of Department for the multinational TIGER programme at Eurocopter and Head of the Defence Executive Office at EADS/Airbus. These roles provided essential preparation for the broad range of responsibilities associated with being Managing Director of Atlas-Elektronik, CEO of Premium AEROTEC and CEO of ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik GmbH.
In these roles, he achieved significant milestones in profitable growth, global sales, mergers and acquisitions and actively shaping technological transformation. Key to his entrepreneurial success has always been his ability to find the right team, and the right people for the job.
As a result, Kai Horten chose to move into HR consulting in 2020, where he draws upon his knowledge from 14 years of operational experience as managing director and CEO. It is therefore easy for him to adopt the entrepreneur’s perspective and understand the specific requirements of the candidates to be found.
Focus of his work:
Filling key positions in industrial / technology companies, esp. Defence, Aerospace, Automotive, IT/Cyber Security
Typical challenges that he supports:
Succession / Change of Ownership / M&A
Performance Improvement / Turn Around
in industrial, medium-sized and family-owned companies as well as private equity firms
Kai Horten
Dipl.-Ing. (Univ.) Aerospace technology
Kai Horten began his professional career in 1989 as an aviation technical officer, initially in flight operations for naval aviator helicopters, and later for an international armament cooperation in France.
After transferring from the German Armed Forces (reserve corvette captain) to industry, Kai Horten became Head of Department for the multinational TIGER programme at Eurocopter and Head of the Defence Executive Office at EADS/Airbus. These roles provided essential preparation for the broad range of responsibilities associated with being Managing Director of Atlas-Elektronik, CEO of Premium AEROTEC and CEO of ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik GmbH.
In these roles, he achieved significant milestones in profitable growth, global sales, mergers and acquisitions and actively shaping technological transformation. Key to his entrepreneurial success has always been his ability to find the right team, and the right people for the job.
As a result, Kai Horten chose to move into HR consulting in 2020, where he draws upon his knowledge from 14 years of operational experience as managing director and CEO. It is therefore easy for him to adopt the entrepreneur’s perspective and understand the specific requirements of the candidates to be found.
Focus of his work:
Filling key positions in industrial / technology companies, esp. Defence, Aerospace, Automotive, IT/Cyber Security
Typical challenges that he supports:
Succession / Change of Ownership / M&A
Performance Improvement / Turn Around
in industrial, medium-sized and family-owned companies as well as private equity firms