What We Do
NextUp identifies and places finance, commercial, and operational leaders for companies navigating critical moments of transformation.
We typically work on mandates where leadership decisions directly influence execution capability, operational performance, and enterprise value.
Our work combines financial understanding, cross-market insight, and human judgment to identify leaders capable of operating across different systems, cultures, and governance environments.
In situations where organizations require immediate leadership, NextUp also supports the placement of interim executives to stabilize operations, lead transformation programs, or bridge leadership transitions.
Core Focus
- CFO and Finance Leadership
- Commercial and Growth Leadership
- COO and Operational Leadership
- Cross-border leadership hiring across Europe and emerging markets
- Leadership roles influencing governance, transformation, and execution
- Interim Leadership for Transformation and Transition
What Makes Us Different
NextUp operates as a leadership partner, not a transactional recruiting firm.
We work closely with founders, investors, and executive teams during moments where leadership capability determines whether strategy succeeds or fails.
Operating between Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, and Istanbul, NextUp connects European organizations with leadership capable of operating across different markets and business environments.
With a background shaped by financial and audit environments, we evaluate leaders not only through experience but through their ability to influence financial outcomes and operational performance.
Technology accelerates research and market mapping.
Leadership decisions require judgment, context, and trust.
Every mandate is personally led by the founder, ensuring senior attention, strategic alignment, and discretion throughout the search process.
Selected Leadership Mandates
NextUp has supported leadership transformations across industrial groups, global consumer brands, technology companies, and investor-backed organizations.
Following a global supply chain shift, a leading consumer brand expanded one of its largest international manufacturing hubs.
NextUp partnered with the CEO to build new leadership across supply chain, finance, and production, bringing external talent capable of scaling operations and strengthening governance.
These leadership appointments supported operational growth and long-term value creation.
Following a $30M private equity investment, a medical technology company began building a global operational structure.
NextUp supported the hiring of finance and data leadership, helping establish a scalable international team structure including FP&A and analytics capabilities.
A fast-growing retail platform with annual revenues exceeding €800M entered a new phase of professional leadership.
NextUp supported the CEO in building an executive team across marketing, HR, technology, and e-commerce, strengthening the leadership infrastructure during rapid growth.
NextUp has also supported leadership appointments across finance, operations, and commercial roles for several European industrial groups during periods of structural transformation and international expansion.
Why NextUp?
Companies navigating growth, restructuring, or ownership transition require leaders capable of operating across different systems, cultures, and governance environments.
NextUp combines: