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. When results matter. The company connects organisations with high-impact freelance management consultants, IT and subject-matter experts, and interim managers — personally selected, typically available within 24 to 36 hours, and dependable throughout the project. With more than 23,000 carefully vetted experts in the German-speaking market: more than eleven years of average project experience, verified in a multi-stage selection process covering technical skills and personal fit alike. Where algorithms reach their limits, a person decides — closing the gap between traditional consulting and pure staffing. Since 2016, leading companies, consultancies and private equity firms have relied on this approach, and more than 3,000 completed projects demonstrate its effectiveness. consultingheads GmbH is headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany. Olaf Melsbach is Managing Director.

Press contact: Olaf Melsbach, Managing Director · consultingheads GmbH, Borsigstr. 1, 51381 Leverkusen, Germany · Tel. +49 2171 795478-0 · presse@consultingheads.com · consultingheads.com