The Client

PPI AG is an established consulting and software company with a focus on banking and insurance. Particularly in the payment transactions sector, the company is one of the market leaders in Germany. With locations in Germany and Europe, PPI AG supports its clients in the development of modern IT solutions and accompanies them in their digital transformation.

As a medium-sized company, PPI AG combines technologically demanding projects with short decision-making paths and a long-term corporate culture.

The Challenge

A Deputy Head of IT was sought for the Hamburg location.

The role placed high demands on the candidate. In addition to sound technical expertise, the search was for a personality who could assume leadership responsibility, relieve the burden on the Head of IT, and at the same time contribute operationally. This combination of strategic thinking, leadership and a hands-on mentality is rarely found in the current IT market.

The position had already been vacant for eight months. Without a successful placement, the operational and strategic burden on the Head of IT would have continued to increase, and progress on key internal projects would have been limited.

Our Approach

For this search, we targeted our network in the Hamburg IT market and combined various recruiting channels:

• Direct approach via LinkedIn and XING

• Activation of our existing network

• Recommendations

• Targeted job advertisements

In parallel, we placed great emphasis on an efficient recruiting process. Regular check-ins with the specialist departments, short decision-making paths and a maximum of two interview rounds ensured that suitable candidates could be guided through the process quickly.

Another focus was on long-term fit. Through cultural matching, transparent communication and realistic expectation management, we ensured that not only were the technical requirements met, but also that cooperation could be successful in the long term. 

The Results

After an eight-month vacancy, the position was successfully filled:

1 Deputy Head of IT in Hamburg

With the successful recruitment, the Head of IT was noticeably relieved and the internal IT structure was strengthened sustainably.

Client Feedback

Our persistence throughout the search process was particularly appreciated.

Despite the demanding requirements and the small candidate market, we remained continuously active in the market, calibrated the search together with the client, and kept the communication transparent at all times. It was precisely this combination of perseverance, close cooperation and market knowledge that ultimately led to the successful placement.