Beyond Chiefs recruits AI leaders for companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Christian Pobbig leads the firm from Hamburg. Its mandates focus on Chief AI Officer and Head of AI roles, and AI responsibility at board level.
What leadership does your AI transformation need? Start with what the new leader will own: prioritising AI initiatives, building the team or leading implementation across business functions. These questions help define the search mandate.
From transformation objectives to a leadership mandate
A job title alone does not define the assignment. Before a search, appointing leaders should clarify which decisions belong to the new executive and which remain with the board, executive management or business functions. Beyond Chiefs works in retained executive search with a defined mandate and an accountable partner.
Four questions for your AI leadership mandate
- Purpose: What change should the leader be responsible for?
- Decision rights: Which priorities, resources and initiatives can they decide on?
- Collaboration: How will they work with technology, data and business teams?
- Success: After they join, how will you assess whether the mandate is being fulfilled?
These questions provide a starting point for boards, CEOs, CHROs, advisory boards and private-equity investors. They help clarify responsibilities and expectations before a candidate profile is developed.
Appointing leaders and roles
The service is for boards, CEOs, CHROs, advisory boards and private-equity investors appointing AI leaders. Roles include Chief AI Officer, Head of AI and AI responsibility at board level. The right role depends on the mandate and reporting line.
Germany, Austria and Switzerland
Beyond Chiefs undertakes AI executive search mandates across DACH. The firm is based in Hamburg. For midsized businesses, see the additional information on AI leadership roles in the DACH Mittelstand.
What matters when assessing candidates
Assess experience and leadership responsibility against your specific mandate. Which decisions has a person owned? How have they worked with business functions? Which results can they explain with evidence? A matching title alone does not answer these questions.
Permanent, fractional or interim
First clarify responsibilities, time commitment and the duration of the assignment. Then assess which appointment model fits the need. Read more about Fractional CAIO and interim CAIO roles.
Questions about your AI search mandate
What does AI executive search for transformation mean?
AI executive search is the search for leaders with AI responsibility. A transformation mandate first clarifies the changes, decisions and collaboration the new leader will own. Beyond Chiefs works in retained executive search for these appointments.
Which AI leadership roles does Beyond Chiefs recruit for?
The focus is on Chief AI Officer, Head of AI and AI responsibility at board level. The specific mandate defines responsibilities, decision rights and the reporting line.
Which countries does Beyond Chiefs serve?
Beyond Chiefs offers AI executive search to companies in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. Christian Pobbig leads the firm from Hamburg.
How should we prepare an AI search mandate?
Document the assignment, decision rights, collaboration with other functions and your success criteria. Also clarify time commitment and duration before choosing a permanent, fractional or interim appointment.