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Practice Group

DefenCe & Cybersecurity Executive Search

Leadership search for organisations where operational security, strategic judgment, and discretion are non-negotiable.

Senior leadership in defence and cybersecurity is among the most complex search terrain in executive recruitment. The strongest candidates are not publicly visible, move only through trusted channels, and evaluate a potential employer as carefully as they are evaluated themselves. Standard headhunting approaches do not reach them.

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Search focus

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Discreet mandates with security clearance awareness, managed from day one

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Cross-sector reach: defence primes, cyber vendors, government agencies, critical infrastructure operators

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 Candidate evaluation built around operational judgment and credibility under pressure — not just the CV

Market context

Why is leadership talent so hard to find in defence and cybersecurity?

Defence investment is rising across NATO member states and beyond. Modernisation programmes are accelerating, cyber resilience has moved from the IT department to the boardroom, and organisations across the full defence value chain — from platform manufacturers to critical infrastructure operators — are expanding their senior leadership teams at pace.

The challenge is not a shortage of talent. It is a shortage of visible talent. Senior leaders in this environment operate in contexts where public profiles are limited by design. Their most significant achievements rarely appear on a LinkedIn page or a public CV. They assess a potential employer as rigorously as they are assessed themselves. Conventional recruiting approaches — job postings, database searches, volume outreach — reach the wrong population..

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Ertler approach

What does Ertler Executive Search bring to defence and cybersecurity mandates?

Ertler Executive Search has specialised in defence and security for many years. Founder David Oliver Ertler — a graduate of the Theresan Military Academy and former officer of the Austrian Armed Forces — brings first-hand understanding of military culture, procurement cycles, and the credibility signals that matter in this environment. With four offices (Graz, Düsseldorf, New York, Hong Kong) and active reach across 40+ countries, the firm runs mandates across the full defence value chain: small arms and ammunition, defence electronics and sensors, missile and effector systems, UAV platforms, government sales, and critical infrastructure.

Every search runs as a retained mandate. The process draws on a proprietary candidate network of 65,000+ contacts, discreet direct outreach via encrypted channels, and a structured evaluation methodology that goes beyond the CV — assessing operational judgment, security awareness, and credibility in front of government and military decision-makers. First qualified profiles are delivered within 14 days of mandate briefing.

TYPICAL POSITIONS 

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Chief Information Security Officer (CISO)

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Chief Security Officer / Group Security Director

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VP / Head of Defense Sales & Business Development

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Programme Director — Defence Systems & Platforms

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Head of Government Relations & Regulatory Affairs

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Managing Director — Critical Infrastructure / Dual-Use Technology

Start the conversation

Running a leadership search in defence or cybersecurity? 

Contact us for a confidential initial conversation — no pitch, no obligation. 

Contact us

OTHER PRACTICE GROUPS

Technology, Media & Telecommunications 
 · → Industrial, Manufacturing & Automotive  · → Professional Services · →

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions 

Senior leaders in defence and cybersecurity are rarely visible. They operate in environments where public LinkedIn profiles are limited by design, and their most consequential work is classified or confidential. Finding them requires sector-specific networks, credibility, and discretion — not database volume or job postings. Ertler approaches candidates through channels built on professional trust, using encrypted outreach and anonymised position briefs until a candidate confirms genuine interest.

From mandate briefing to first qualified profiles: 14 days. A full shortlist with long-form candidate dossiers — covering motivation, relevant experience, reference status, salary expectation, and mobility — is typically delivered within 6–8 weeks. Timeline varies with the specificity and sensitivity of the role. Every mandate is led by a senior partner, not a junior researcher.

All outreach runs under Ertler’s name, not the client’s. Position briefs are anonymised until a candidate confirms interest. Communication uses encrypted channels. GDPR compliance is built into every step of the process. Where security clearance is relevant, this is assessed and disclosed at the appropriate stage — never prematurely. The same level of discretion the client expects from a new hire is applied to the search itself.

The retained mandate covers the full search cycle: mandate briefing and position profiling, candidate mapping, direct outreach, long-form candidate dossiers, shortlist review sessions, reference checks, negotiation support, and onboarding accompaniment through the first 100 days.

Yes. Ertler operates from offices in Graz (HQ), Düsseldorf, New York, and Hong Kong, with search capacity across 40+ countries. Defence and security mandates have been delivered across Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. The firm’s trade show presence — SHOT Show, Eurosatory, DSEI, Milipol, SOF Week — gives direct access to senior talent in every relevant market.