Executive search and leadership consulting in Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia is one of the fastest-growing regions for international investment — and one of the most diverse. From Vietnam’s manufacturing boom to Singapore’s role as a regional hub, each market has its own talent dynamics, business culture, and leadership demands.
FES Partners has built a strong and growing presence across Southeast Asia, with consultants based in Ho Chi Minh City and Singapore. We support international mid-sized companies — particularly those pursuing China+1 strategies or expanding their ASEAN footprint — with executive search, HR consulting, and leadership advisory.
What we do in Southeast Asia
We conduct retained executive searches for C-level and senior leadership roles across Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and the wider ASEAN region. Our consultants understand the distinct characteristics of each market and have the networks to source candidates who combine local credibility with international experience.
We also support clients with talent assessments, succession planning, and leadership development — tailored to the realities of operating in fast-moving Southeast Asian markets.
Industries we serve in Southeast Asia
Our team in Southeast Asia
Our Southeast Asia practice is led by Andree Mangels, Partner based in Ho Chi Minh City, and Thaddaeus Mueller, Managing Partner.
Andree brings a unique blend of European business experience and deep Southeast Asian market knowledge, with a particular focus on leadership hiring across Vietnam and the broader ASEAN region.
Thaddaeus brings over 20 years in Asia and deep expertise advising Mittelstand and family-owned companies from the DACH region as they establish and expand their presence in Southeast Asia — making him a natural partner for German, Austrian and Swiss businesses building leadership teams in the region.
Thaddaeus Mueller
Managing Partner
Thaddaeus’ area of expertise is finding innovative solutions for clients seeking to establish and expand their presence in South East Asia. With his 20 years in Asia, he developed a track record in advising SMEs and large family-owned companies from the DACH region in building robust leadership teams.
Thaddaeus has a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and gained experience in the Automotive sector and an American technology company before joining Fiducia in 2005 in a sales role. He quickly understood his passion is in HR and recruiting and has been leading the growth of FES Partners since its inception.
He excels in finding, assessing and placing high-performing professionals for various industry leaders from manufacturing, machinery, automotive and components. He also regularly conducts searches for purchasing offices in Hong Kong, China and SEA.
Thaddaeus is originally from South Germany. He is a father of two who enjoys traveling with family, cycling and tennis.
Andree Mangels
Partner, Southeast Asia
Andree Mangels is Partner, Southeast Asia at FES Partners and an executive search leader with more than 20 years of experience across the ASEAN region. Having lived and worked in Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam, he brings deep on‑the‑ground insight into the leadership challenges and talent dynamics of high‑growth Southeast Asian markets.
Andree has led senior and C‑level appointments for multinational and regional organizations across the industrial, manufacturing, logistics, and consumer sectors. Before joining FES Partners, he held senior leadership roles at Adecco and Robert Walters, where he led multi‑city operations with full P&L responsibility. During this time, he built and scaled Executive Search and Permanent Recruitment businesses, developed high‑performing teams, and partnered closely with global and regional management on critical leadership mandates.
Beyond his corporate work, Andree contributes to talent development as an Adjunct Lecturer for MBA programs at the Vietnamese‑German University (VGU), teaching Human Resource Management and International Communication. He holds a double master’s degree in Business Administration and Economics from Leuphana University of Lüneburg, Germany, and is an ICF‑certified coach specializing in emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness.
Originally from Northern Germany, Andree is based in Ho Chi Minh City with his wife and daughter. Outside of work, he enjoys sports and traveling.
Planning your Southeast Asia expansion?
Whether you’re entering a new market or strengthening an existing team, our Southeast Asia consultants are ready to help.