F.A.Z.-Institut recognises consultingheads — assessed by the same criteria as established consultancies

Leverkusen, Germany, 20 May 2026 — The F.A.Z.-Institut has named consultingheads GmbH a TOP Consultant 2026 in the expert network category. The recognition was published in the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung on 20 May 2026 and was compiled in cooperation with the market research firm QUANTIQUEST.

What stands out is less the recognition itself than the frame it sits in. The assessment used the same criteria applied in this study to management consultancies, IT consultancies and law firms: client satisfaction, technical expertise, advisory competence and likelihood of recommendation. It draws mainly on client feedback.

"We are measured against the same standards as classic consulting firms — and we hold up," says Olaf Melsbach, Managing Director of consultingheads. "That is what matters to us about this recognition. An expert network is not a fallback for companies that cannot afford consulting. It is an equivalent alternative — with the difference that clients get exactly the expertise they need, rather than the team that happens to be available."

The level is visible in the daily rates consultingheads publishes for the roles in its network: a median of EUR 1,050, rising to EUR 2,500 for interim mandates at board level. The network is built around experienced specialists and executives, not entry-level profiles.

The assessment covers the network as a whole, not a single discipline. consultingheads spans 20 fields — from strategy and M&A through SAP, cloud and supply chain to leadership roles in production. "Finding good people in one field is something anyone can do," says Melsbach. "Holding that quality across 20 fields is the actual job — and that is exactly what this recognition is about."

"A network of more than 23,000 profiles is easy to claim," says Melsbach. "The difference is made in the 24 to 36 hours between a request and a shortlist — and after that, in whether the people we propose deliver. Ninety-five percent of our proposals lead to a placement; clients judge that, not we."

The consultingheads profile in the ranking is available at topberater.faz.net.

About consultingheads

consultingheads is the expert network when results matter. consultingheads GmbH, headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany, places hand-picked freelance consultants and interim managers with companies across the German-speaking market — typically within 24 to 36 hours, at a 95 percent placement rate and with more than 3,000 projects successfully completed. Founded in 2016, the company maintains a network of more than 23,000 vetted experts and covers mandates ranging from strategy consulting through IT, SAP and supply chain to leadership roles on the shop floor. Pre-selection is AI-supported; the recommendation that reaches the client is made by a person. Olaf Melsbach is Managing Director.

Press contact: Olaf Melsbach, Managing Director · consultingheads GmbH, Borsigstr. 1, 51381 Leverkusen, Germany · olaf.melsbach@consultingheads.com · consultingheads.com