Our Team

Ertler Executive Search is a fusion of David Oliver Ertler’s competences, namely his instinct for people and companies as well as his wide-ranging experiences in recruiting within different industries, and his global network of specialists holding senior management positions.

After having successfully finished the Theresan Military Academy, the officer David Oliver Ertler held different functions in Austria and abroad, until his passion and the challenges of the private industry encouraged him to change profession. He started to work as VP HR for the company Neuroth, where – in his function as managing director – he also headed the training academy. Subsequently, he moved on to the XAL group and set up the strategic and operative personnel management as the global HR executive.

He has expertise and experiences within all classical functions, knows retail and industrial enterprises as well as startup companies first-hand, and spots for his clients those candidates who do not only match a profile but are the right decision for the company.

Robin – our Swedish Viking in the team – serves as Client Director Nordics. His fifteen year long career, in five different countries, as a professional hockey player gives him a unique background and skill set. After finishing high school he left home at age 15 to continue his studies at the Malmö Hockey Gymnasium, where he graduated the Trade and Sales programme.

In Graz, Austria, he met David and they instantly found a connection and saw the possibilities of future synergies. He’s got the Swedish DNA and knowledge of what the Scandinavian market needs and valuate. This in combination with living in the centre of Europe for years makes him the perfect partner for searches with these needs. He is passionate about helping people to grow and to maximize their potential. Used to work in a team, setting and reaching goals together. He’s got great leadership skills that has given him the honour and experience of being the captain of teams, learning how to read people and to see to everyones needs. Learning how to take care of the individual to make the team stronger. The importance of structure, discipline and hierarchy was implemented in Robins life at an stage and is something he lives by.

Ewald Kager, based in Upper Austria, is a recognised expert in digital processes, organisational development and business transformation. With fifteen years in public service in information management and IT, and a further fifteen in management consulting at firms including KPMG, Grant Thornton and BDO, he combines a pronounced Big Four background with extensive experience in the financial industry, in regulated organisations and in complex transformation environments.

Years of advising at management and board level have shown him what companies actually need from effective leaders: strategic thinking, delivery, the capacity for change, integrity, decisiveness, and the ability to carry people through demanding situations. He assesses not only technical qualifications but also personality, leadership style and cultural fit within the specific company context. His expertise in operational excellence, IT, cybersecurity, digitalisation, risk management and organisational governance allows him to judge leadership profiles from a whole-system perspective. In demanding search mandates in particular, he recognises which competencies a leader needs in order to connect strategy, structure, processes and people. This combination of Big Four grounding, financial industry experience, digital process expertise and his own leadership experience makes Ewald Kager a valuable partner for companies that are not simply filling a position, but looking for the right leader for their next phase of development.

With over 25 years of experience in healthcare, our partner brings outstanding expertise to the table. His proficiency spans not only personnel management and recruiting but also includes more than 15 years of executive experience managing various healthcare facilities across acute care, rehabilitation, and long-term care. Through his extensive work in the establishment and organisation of healthcare institutions, he combines hands-on experience with a strong academic foundation.

A degree in economics and an MBA in Hospital and Healthcare Management provide an excellent basis for results-driven approaches and the highest standards in executive search, enabling him to attract top talent specifically for the healthcare industry and to develop forward-looking solutions for your staffing needs!

Raised in Hong Kong and with over twenty years of executive search experience in Greater China, Brant Burke leads Ertler Executive Search’s Asia Operations as Managing Director, based across Hong Kong and Shanghai. His focus lies in industrial sectors including packaging, manufacturing, and engineering.

His deep local market knowledge, language skills in Chinese, French and English, and on-the-ground presence make him the ideal partner for clients seeking top leadership talent across Asia Pacific.

As Director at Ertler Executive Search Asia Limited, Catherine Zhou covers the Hong Kong and South China market together with Managing Director Brant Burke, with extensive project collaboration and engagement in Shanghai and other Asian regions. Her industry focus lies on Retail, Furniture & Design, and Technology.

Catherine has built a strong track record of helping European companies build their Asia teams, as well as assisting Chinese companies in developing their overseas business. Her expertise encompasses talent acquisition, organisational development, and cross-cultural collaboration, enabling her to deliver impactful results that meet the unique needs of businesses in the region.

Tim Slekovec is a Research Consultant at Ertler Executive Search, identifying and assessing candidates for C-level and senior management roles. He focuses on Defence & Security, Industry and Healthcare, with searches across the DACH region, the rest of Europe, Asia Pacific and the Americas.

Before joining Ertler Executive Search, Tim spent more than six years leading IT project teams supporting major technology companies. His work centred on improving the performance of search engines and AI-powered software. Working with teams and clients across Asia, Europe and the United States gave him first-hand experience of different business expectations and leadership cultures.

Tim has also run a marketing agency focused on online reputation management: how companies and individuals are perceived online, and what that means for the talent they attract. His work as an AI Automation Consultant carries into his approach to executive search research. He uses technology to free up time for assessing candidates and understanding the business contexts in which they work.

Patrizia Lusty has been living as an US correspondent in California for some years and is the link between ERTLER EXECUTIVE SEARCH and the US market. The combination of her studies of media management and cross-cultural communication laid the foundation for a more diversified career path. Amongst others, she operated as the head of the marketing department of LEYKAM Let’S Print and was responsible for the B2B communication of one of the biggest offset printing facilities in Europe. Apart from her job as a US correspondent she supervises the quality management of 101domain, Inc. for the German- and English-speaking countries.

Due to her experiences in different markets and a high flexibility in terms of travelling, she has access to multifaceted business models, which hold out the prospect of a broad range of employees and potential talents.

Michael’s career path is anything but conventional, skillfully blending the rigor of blue-collar roles with the strategic nuances of the corporate world. This unique combination enables him to approach executive search with empathy, sophistication, and an insider’s perspective—essential qualities that inform every connection he facilitates.

Originally from Texas, Michael has nearly two decades of experience as a professional firefighter and safety consultant in the oil and gas sector, complemented by hands-on expertise in the trades. This diverse background provides him with a profound understanding of the workforce landscape. He takes pride in leveraging his extensive experience and industry knowledge to ensure that every match he makes is as fiery and reliable as the profession demands. Currently focusing on recruiting within the defence, firearms, hunting, and outdoor sports industries, Michael applies his passion and expertise to make significant impacts in these fields. At Ertler Executive Search, he is dedicated to aligning exceptional talent with opportunities that create lasting success.