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CSG Talent Working in Partnership
Nihon Kohden: Scaling European Leadership Through Specialist Medical Devices Executive Search
Nihon Kohden Europe GmbH is a leading provider of advanced medical electronic equipment, specialising in patient monitoring, cardiology, and neurology solutions. Established as the European branch of its Japanese parent company, the organisation plays a critical role in delivering life-saving technology to hospitals and healthcare providers across the region.
Renowned for innovation and precision in clinical environments, Nihon Kohden provides a diverse product portfolio that includes patient monitors, defibrillators, ECGs, and EEG systems. As the European business has grown, so has the need for a strong leadership team capable of driving expansion while maintaining high standards of service and delivery, making leadership hiring a key pillar of its growth strategy.
Scaling Leadership in a Niche and Competitive Market
CSG Talent has partnered with Nihon Kohden for the past decade, supporting the business through multiple phases of growth across Europe. The relationship has developed into a long-term strategic partnership, with around 30 successful placements delivered across leadership, commercial, and specialist roles.
The medical devices sector is extremely niche, with candidates who possess the required technical knowledge limited and highly sought after. Many of the most suitable professionals are already embedded within competitor organisations and are not actively seeking new opportunities, making them difficult to access through traditional recruitment approaches.
As the European business expanded, there was a clear need to build a leadership structure capable of driving performance across multiple markets. This included the appointment of a Vice President to oversee the region, as well as Country Managers and senior commercial leaders responsible for executing growth strategies.
These hires were critical for operational leadership and ensuring alignment between the European organisation and the global headquarters in Japan. Securing the right individuals required a deep understanding of both the medical devices market and the cultural dynamics of an international organisation.
As this niche market is so competitive, companies are often willing to increase salaries significantly to secure or retain key talent, meaning hiring decisions must be informed by up-to-date market intelligence to remain competitive. Without access to this insight, there is a significant risk of losing candidates during the process or failing to retain employees long-term.
Delivering Specialist Talent Through Market Insight and Executive Search Expertise
A key strength of the partnership is the depth of sector expertise. CSG Talent’s dedicated medical device executive search specialists bring a level of industry knowledge that enables them to understand the nuances of the market, identify high-performing individuals, and engage with a niche network of industry specialists.
By leveraging its established network within the sector, CSG Talent is often able to identify suitable candidates almost immediately. This allows for the delivery of a high-quality shortlist within 7-10 days, even for senior and highly specialised roles. This combination of pace and precision is a key advantage of working with a specialist executive search partner.
Rather than relying on active applicants, CSG Talent proactively engages passive candidates who are already performing at a high level within the industry. This ensures that Nihon Kohden consistently has access to the strongest available talent, rather than being limited to those actively seeking new roles. Each search is supported by detailed market mapping, providing visibility into competitor structures, talent availability, and emerging hiring trends.
CSG Talent also adds value by providing regular salary benchmarking insight and challenging Nihon Kohden directly to make sure offers are aligned with market expectations and reduce the risk of losing candidates during negotiations. CSG Talent also supports Nihon Kohden with broader salary reviews across the business to ensure that existing employees are compensated competitively, which strengthens retention and reduces the need for reactive hiring.
Having originally placed Senior Vice President Andreas Schabbach, CSG Talent now works closely with him to build out the wider team. This full-circle partnership provides a unique level of alignment, as CSG Talent fully understands both the expectations of senior leadership and the type of talent required to support their strategy.
Strengthening European Leadership to Support Long-Term Growth
By successfully placing a range of senior professionals across different functions, CSG Talent has played a key role in shaping Nihon Kohden’s regional expansion. The hires have enabled the organisation to scale effectively across Europe, strengthening its presence in key markets and improving its ability to deliver high-quality solutions to healthcare providers.
Retention across the organisation is extremely strong, supported by competitive compensation strategies and the precise selection of candidates who are aligned with the company’s culture and long-term vision. This stability reduces disruption and allows the business to focus on innovation and customer delivery.
Beyond individual placements, the partnership continues to deliver value through market intelligence, strategic advice, and consistent access to skilled talent. As the business continues to expand, CSG Talent remains embedded as a trusted advisor, supporting both immediate hiring needs and long-term workforce planning.
For Nihon Kohden, working with a specialist executive search partner has helped build a high-performing leadership team, stay ahead of market trends, and make informed talent decisions in an increasingly competitive and evolving industry.
Contact CSG Talent for support securing senior-level talent.
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