Press Release
Marcus Herold recognized for 50 years of visionary leadership, integrity, and lasting impact on the executive search profession
The Association of Executive Search and Leadership Consultants (AESC), the global association representing the $20+ billion executive search and leadership consulting profession, presented Marcus Herold, Founder, Chairman & Owner of MPS Enterprises Ltd., with AESC’s prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award.
“Marcus Herold represents the essence of enduring leadership, vision, and humanity in our profession,” said James Edmund Datri, President and CEO of AESC. “For fifty years, he has shaped the landscape of executive search and leadership consulting in the Nordics and beyond. His people-centered philosophy, entrepreneurial spirit, and unwavering integrity have elevated the standards of our profession globally.”
Marcus Herold’s career is a rare example of consistency, foresight, and purpose. Over five decades, he has built MPS Enterprises Ltd., a member of Panorama, into one of the most respected firms in Northern Europe, leading with a conviction that business success is driven by people. Since founding MPS in 1975 alongside Thomas GrosJean, Marcus has guided the firm through every stage of growth and transformation—serving as CEO for 42 years and later as Chairman of the Board.
“Through both prosperous and challenging times, Marcus has led with integrity, optimism, and an unwavering belief in the strength of motivated people,” said Roy Herold, Partner & Senior Advisor at MPS Enterprises, who nominated him for the award. “His commitment to the highest ethical standards and to earning trust has defined MPS’s reputation—one built on excellence, symbolized by our membership in AESC. Marcus exemplifies visionary, principled, and compassionate leadership.”
Under his leadership, MPS has grown into a company of 130 experts across seven Finnish cities: Espoo, Turku, Tampere, Kuopio, Vaasa, Oulu and Lahti and has become a pioneer in leadership consulting, assessment, and recruitment across the Nordic region. Guided by the philosophy “Because companies are made up of people,” Marcus fostered a culture grounded in trust, motivation, and continuous development. The firm’s mission, “Valuable growth for everyone,” became a lived reality, one that benefitted clients, employees, and society alike.
As a visionary entrepreneur, Marcus has overseen more than 65,000 recruitment assignments, 1,300 CEO appointments, and 1,000 board and leadership team assessments. MPS has performed 250,000 personality assessments, delivered 1.5 million online learning experiences, and helped 13,000 people through career transitions, impacting leaders and organizations across generations.
From the beginning, Marcus believed that great leadership was not only about finding talent but about understanding and nurturing potential. This philosophy positioned MPS as one of the first firms to combine executive search with leadership assessment and development, a model that has since become the hallmark of quality across the profession.
Marcus’s contributions extend far beyond MPS. He has played a vital role in advancing the executive search profession across the Nordics, expanding into Sweden, Norway, and Denmark and helping to shape a culture of excellence that defines the region today. In recognition of his impact, he received Finland’s Recruitment Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2023 Rekrygaala, honoring his pioneering contributions to the field.
“Marcus has had a significant and lasting influence on the search business across the Nordic region,” said Elina Koskela, CEO of MPS Enterprises. “As a true international pioneer in the field since the 1970s, he introduced executive search practices to leadership teams and senior management, laying the foundation for a new professional standard in the industry.”
As a mentor, Marcus has guided countless leaders, executives, and entrepreneurs, encouraging balance and reflection in their personal and professional lives. His belief that leadership must honor the whole person: work, family, friends, and health, has influenced a generation of leaders and continues to define MPS’s approach to people and performance.
Marcus also played a leading role in strengthening global professional standards through AESC membership and MPS’s participation in Panorama. Under his guidance, MPS has actively engaged with AESC for more than a decade, hosting events, co-branding research, and participating in global forums to advance ethics and excellence in executive search.
Marcus Herold continues to serve as Chairman of MPS and remains active in executive search, advising senior leaders and boards with the same commitment that has defined his five-decade career. His life’s work, rooted in integrity, humanity, and an enduring belief in people, stands as a model for the profession worldwide.
About the AESC Lifetime Achievement Award
Bestowed since 1982, the AESC Lifetime Achievement Award is the profession’s highest honor, recognizing individuals at the pinnacle of their careers who have exemplified and advanced excellence in executive search and leadership consulting. Recipients are widely regarded as icons whose legacies have shaped the profession and upheld its highest values of ethics, integrity, and impact. The award celebrates their enduring influence and steadfast commitment to advancing leadership worldwide.
About AESC
AESC Members place and advise the world’s board directors and C-suite leaders. Founded in 1959, AESC represents the global gold standard in executive search and leadership consulting, bringing together over 16,000 professionals in more than 80 countries. AESC Members are rigorously vetted to meet the highest standards in the profession.
