IT Sales & Presales Search · DACH & Nordics
An operator, not a recruiter.
I help technology companies hire Account Executives, Sales Engineers and sales leaders, with the judgment of someone who has built and led sales teams himself.
I’m Jan Nordh. I spent 25 years in enterprise technology sales and built European sales teams from scratch for US vendors such as Brocade, Decru and EqualLogic. I personally lead every search, from briefing to close.
30-minute call · Confidential · No obligation
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Rated on Bestcruiter · 4× Headhunter of the Year (Experteer, 2016–2019)
Alex
Group CEO
“We have been working successfully with Jan Nordh for several years, particularly in filling challenging sales roles within the IT security sector. […] Thanks to his support, we have excellently filled multiple key positions within our sales team.”
PERFORMANCE
By the Numbers
280+
Placements since 2007
97%
Still in role after 12 months
6
Replacements in 19 years
100%
Repeat clients
Direct Outreach, No Job Boards
High-Performer Network
When companies call me
Entering DACH
You are a technology vendor entering Germany and need your first local commercial hire.
Building the sales team
You need Account Executives and Sales Engineers who fit your customers and your sales motion.
Hiring sales leadership
You need a Sales Director or VP to take the team to its next stage of growth.
How I assess the fit
I hire for the system, not the symptom.
A weak pipeline is rarely one problem. It is positioning, messaging, go-to-market and team, all at once. A strong sales leader sees the whole commercial system, and that is what I assess for, the way a hiring manager would. Not a keyword on a CV.
Your business
Market, growth stage, customers and sales motion. What the hire has to deliver commercially.
Your team
Leadership, resources, territory and expectations. Whether the conditions for success are really in place.
The candidate
Proven results, technical depth and the real reason for a move. How well all of that matches your situation.
Your search, personally led.
Operator, not a recruiter
The person you hire is the one who delivers, every phase, no juniors, no handoffs. What disappoints buyers is usually a larger firm where a junior ran the mandate, not the principal. A senior who runs every phase himself is the answer to that, not the risk. The proof is continuity: some of my client relationships run beyond a decade.
On the ground since 1986, not run from a distance.
Many boutique search firms run DACH and Nordics mandates remotely from the UK. Language, business culture and a live local network do not travel well across a thousand kilometres. I have been based in Munich since 1986, I work with candidates and clients in their own language, and I read salary reality and decision-making in this market first-hand. The network is one I built over 25 years as an operator here, not a list bought in from outside.
What Clients Say
Endorsements from Executives
Alex
Group CEO
"We have been working successfully with Jan Nordh for several years, particularly in filling challenging sales roles within the IT security sector. Mr. Nordh not only understands our market segment but also impresses with his deep knowledge of candidate profiles, his thorough pre-select process, and his honest, reliable communication. Thanks to his support, we have excellently filled multiple key positions within our sales team. We value the collaboration highly and can thoroughly recommend Jan Nordh."
Lothar
Sales Director DACH
Mr. Nordh has proven to be a reliable, competent, and loyal partner over all the years of our collaboration. He has not only impressed us with his knowledge of the industry but also with his personal values. We look forward to continuing our trusting and professional collaboration in the event of any future needs and can highly recommend his company.
André
Sales VP
This is an absolute 5 stars, as most of the Headhunters I met never had this kind of Empathy for the candidates. It is very important for him to have the right fit for the company, but also for the candidates. The best Headhunter! It was a big pleasure!
Christine
HR Director DACH
Nordh Executive Search / Mr. Nordh has successfully supported us in Germany in the last 7 years as well as in the years before with the identification and placement of suitable candidates for our company.
Why Work With Me
Pavel
VP of Operations
Jan provided strategic guidance on LinkedIn positioning that transformed my executive job search. His advice was precise and immediately actionable. Results within 8 weeks: - Profile viewers: 57% at Director+ level - Geographic targeting: Prague 35% → 18%, DACH 32% - Interview pipeline: Multiple VP-level final rounds Jan understands executive-level positioning. He doesn't give generic LinkedIn tips, he provides strategic guidance for senior leaders who need to be found by the right decision-makers. For VP/Director-level GTM/Sales professionals in DACH/Nordics optimizing for executive search visibility, Jan is an excellent resource. Highly recommend.
Operator, Not Recruiter
25+ years in enterprise IT sales (storage, cybersecurity, software)
Former hiring manager & candidate
Real-world KPIs, GTM frameworks, territory design, comp plans
Built Teams for US Tech Companies 5 US vendors launched in Europe First-on-the-ground hiring experience Deep understanding of market entry & scale-up phases
High-Performer Network VP → SDR, trusted relationships across DACH & Nordics 19 years of followership 97% retention across placements
Why Choose My Services?
With 25+ years in enterprise IT sales and 19 years of specialized headhunting, I cut through the noise of traditional recruitment processes, providing you with the best candidates in record time. Instead of relying on job boards and LinkedIn, I connect you directly with top-notch talent, saving you time and money. I understand the intricacies of each field—from cybersecurity to DevOps—ensuring that every candidate I present is a perfect fit for your business.
Cybersecurity Recruitment
I connect you with top-tier cybersecurity sales and presales engineers, leveraging my 25+ years in enterprise IT to ensure you hire quickly and efficiently, bypassing unqualified candidates.
AI / SaaS / Quantum Computing Recruitment
I place high-performing talent in AI, SaaS, and Cloud roles, using my extensive industry knowledge to find the perfect match for your business needs, fast.
Enterprise Storage Recruitment
I specialize in recruiting sales engineers for enterprise storage solutions, helping you secure the best talent without wasting time on job boards.
DevSecOps / DevOps / Software Development Recruitment
Drawing on my IT expertise and hands-on experience as a software developer, I rapidly deliver top candidates in DevSecOps, DevOps, and software development, closing your hiring gaps with precision and speed.
Selected Candidates testimonials
Andreas
Mr. Nordh was very professional during the process, but even more important is to mention that he does really care about the candidates. He was always very interested in having preparation calls and also to know how the interview went.
Michael
Mr. Nordh knows his business very well. I always felt well looked after and supported throughout the application process thanks to his reliable and professional approach. At every stage, I trusted his guidance and appreciated the way he managed the process.
Dirk
Was by far the best headhunter consultation in years! Professional, very good tips, on target.
Rainer
As I said, Jan Nordh is a master in his field and his network and expertise are unrivaled. I had contact with several headhunters, but no one with his industry knowledge and experience managed to convince me to place my professional fate in his hands!
Podcast with job-related content
Discover My Podcast – Your Insider’s Guide to Career Success and Headhunting.
Tune in, join me! I constantly publish fresh materials.
Julian W.
That’s ultimately the goal of the podcast:
Not just creating “content,” but sharing perspectives that help people gain more clarity about their own positioning and direction. And honestly, I find your approach very compelling. The combination of self-reflection, clear goal definition, and the intelligent use of AI will, in my view, become a real differentiator in the market over the coming years. Many candidates talk very broadly about their next step. The ones who truly move forward usually have a much clearer understanding of where they want to go and why.
