Solving your biggest people challenges in Asia.

Why FES Partners?

We’re more than just recruiters — we’re hands-on problem solvers ready to help your business succeed across Greater China, Southeast Asia, Japan, and beyond.
Long-term trust

Clients see us as a trusted, long-term business partner - and that's something we cherish and work hard for. Count on us for personalised service, professional integrity, and reliable delivery.

Quality at every step

We don’t just aim to find the right talent fast — we deliver clarity, insight, and care at every step. Expect structured updates and in-depth bi-weekly reports to keep you in the loop.

40Y mid-market experience

We’ve supported mid-sized international companies in Asia for over 40 years — starting with DACH firms expanding into China, and now covering Asia’s key markets.

Hands-on problem solvers

Clients turn to us when there's a critical position to fill, when the circumstances are sensitive, or when internal HR has given up. We roll up our sleeves and get it done with grit, speed and skill.

Industry specialists

We know where to look and how to talk to the right people in your space. Our focus areas include: Consumer & Retail • Machinery & Automation • Medical Devices • Automotive • Chemicals & Plastics • Technology

A strong network across Asia

From Shanghai to Tokyo and beyond, our team taps into a powerful regional talent network. We find rare profiles that combine leadership, technical skills, and cultural fit.

Trusted by

Our story

Our heritage

Welcome to FES Partners, a premier executive search firm with a rich history dating back to the 1980s. Our origins can be traced to the renowned consultancy Fiducia (now Acclime), which provided extensive support to companies from the DACH region as they ventured into Greater China.

In 2017, founding partner Thaddaeus Mueller and the owner family of Fiducia decided to spin-off its talent search practice, giving rise to FES Partners, originally known as Fiducia Executive Search. With this solid foundation, our firm emerged with the mission to help mid-sized international companies build the right teams to succeed in Asia.

Our early success was built upon our support for Mittelstand companies from the DACH region seeking to expand in Greater China. Through our commitment to excellence and client satisfaction, our reputation grew, and so did our geographic reach and search radius.

Shanghai in the 1990s when Fiducia opened its first mainland China office, and Shanghai today.

FES Partners today

We now support clients from Europe, Asia-Pacific, and North America, combining global standards with regional expertise. Our teams are based in Shanghai, Singapore, Ho Chi Minh City, and Tokyo, giving us full coverage across Greater China, Southeast Asia, and Japan.

We are a proud member of the Lense & Lumen Advisory Group, a network of 15 independent executive search and HR consultancy firms worldwide. We share best practices, regional insights, and connections to enrich each other’s work and service to our clients.

As of 2025, we also represent China within the Valtus Alliance, the leading international network for executive interim management.

Under the leadership of our seasoned Partners, our top-notch team brings deep market insight, a consulting mindset, and a shared passion for helping clients succeed through exceptional leadership hires.

Asia specialists. Globally connected.

When clients looked beyond China, we grew with them. Today, our coverage includes the full Asia-Pacific arc — from Greater China to Southeast Asia and now Japan.

Through our membership in Lense & Lumen and our partnership with the Valtus Alliance, we bring both regional expertise and global reach — without losing the personal touch that defines boutique search.

We look forward to supporting your growth in Asia.

Meet our team

Leadership

Thaddaeus Mueller

Partner

Dora Zhong

Partner

Jonathan Falconer Executive Search Japan

Jonathan Falconer

Partner, Tokyo

Martin Zheng

Partner

Consultants & associates

Tuan Ho

Project Manager

Ma Li

Managing Associate

Mickey Mi

HR and Admin Supervisor

Hannah Zeng

Project Manager

Research team

Jessica Zhu

Lily Ma

Yvonne Xu

Charisma Dacua

Our values

Our drive to exceed expectations starts from within. At FES Partners, we're committed to giving our best to teammates and clients by sticking to our core values:

Quality

We believe in excellence at every step (not just outcomes).
We stop at nothing to meet and exceed your expectations.
We work with the best.

Integrity

We’re commited to transparent and honest communication.
We build all our business relationships on trust.
We hold ourselves to the highest professional and human standards.

Authenticity

We genuinely care for teammates and clients as people.
We are approachable.
We stay true to our values.

Flexibility

We believe every challenge has a solution.
We adapt to changing needs and circumstances.
We are your partners in good and bad times.

Accountability

We deliver on our promises.
We see mistakes as lessons, and learn from them.
We take responsability and ownership for our decisions.

Long-term vision

We consider the long-term implications of our work for your business.
We value and work hard for long-term business relationships
We strive to have a lasting positive impact on people and organisations.

Ready to start the conversation?

Get in touch