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Manuela Klos is an executive search professional with extensive expertise in the German and broader EU financial sector, having built a successful decades-long career in the industry. She advises supervisory boards, investors and senior leadership teams on C-level and senior executive appointments and on the composition of strategic leadership structures in dynamic and highly regulated environments. She partners with a broad range of clients – from neobanks and FinTechs to established financial institutions and multinational organizations, combining sector depth with a strong advisory perspective. Committed to sustainability, she actively promotes female and diverse leadership potential within the financial industry. A driver of change, she knows exactly what is crucial for a leader to be successful in a dynamic environment.
Professional Focus
- Executive search advisor at Boyden for C-level and senior leadership mandates in financial services, drawing on nearly three decades of hands-on leadership experience in banking and capital markets
- Global Head of FinTech and Payments at Boyden
- Expertise in payments, fintech and digital banking, insurance, investment management, wealth management, sustainability, brokerage, crypto & digital assets and regulatory compliance
- Experience working with (neo) banks, FinTechs, SaaS providers, PayTechs, insurance companies, asset & wealth managers, private equity and venture capital
- Strong track record of searches for C-level and other senior executive roles as well as leadership roles
- C-level advisory services including executive assessments and transaction advice for private equity investors
- Native German, fluent in English, good knowledge of French and Spanish
Business Expertise
- Partner, Global Financial Services at Heidrick & Struggles; based in Frankfurt
- Partner, Financial Services and Member, Global Blockchain Practice at Odgers Berndtson; based in Frankfurt
- Chief Representative and Head of Sales at Fürstlich Castell'sche Bank, Credit-Casse AG
- Chief Customer Officer, Chief Representative, and Member of the Executive Management Team at Fondsdepot Bank GmbH, part of DXC Technology (now FNZ Group)
- Head of Personal Banking, Member of the Core Management Team Germany and International Management Team at one of Europe’s leading sustainable banks
- Senior Manager and Division Head, Asset Managers & Private Banks at zeb, one of the EU’s leading strategy, management and IT consultancies for the financial services industry
- Senior Project Manager, Strategic Projects and Business Development at Oppenheim Kapitalanlagegesellschaft mbH
- Head of Group-Wide PMO & Special Tasks at Mannheimer AG Holding
Additional Expertise
- Insurance
- AI, Cloud & Software
- Digital Transformation Leadership
Areas of Expertise
- Asset Management
- CEO & Board Services
- Financial Officers
- Financial Services
- Fintech
- Private Equity & Venture Capital
- Technology
- Wealth Management & Private Banking
- Financial & Sovereign Institutions
- Retail & Corporate Banking
- Family-Owned/Privately Held Organizations
- Global/Multinational Organizations
Education & Certifications
- Apprenticeship as a certified banker (Bankkauffrau), classical German banking training foundation
- Advanced internal leadership qualification programs for senior management roles in financial institutions
- Completed executive programs
- Certified Mental Coach
- PROPHET Certified
Affiliations & Awards
- Member “Frauen in die Aufsichtsräte”e.V.” (FidAR)
- Top Executive Search Firm (2025) WirtschaftsWoche
- Top Executive Search Firm (2025) Handelsblatt
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Boyden's targeted approach secured a seasoned Managing Director to guide our client, a leading IT services multinational, through reorganization and growth.
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Adrian von Dewall, Managing Partner, Germany, explores how AI, including ChatGPT and tools like PROPHET, is reshaping executive recruitment globally, with a surge in ChatGPT-literate candidates and a transformative impact in diverse markets like Germany.
Guest post by Boyden Partner Bashar Kilani in CEOWORLD magazine explores how AI is commoditizing intelligence and redefining leadership, emphasizing cognitive agility, judgment, and the orchestration of human‑machine intelligence.
A Business Insider piece explores how layoff announcements are evolving into AI‑era strategy statements, highlighting Boyden Partner Rick Wargo’s insights on why companies now emphasize shifting skill needs and long‑term transformation over cost‑cutting.
Contact Manuela Klos today and let's get started