Your Questions, Answered

Claudiu Morărescu is an accomplished executive search strategist and the founder of The Headhunter. He has over 15 years of international experience connecting multinational companies with top-tier leadership and specialized talent. He works across the manufacturing, business process outsourcing (BPO), and shared services sectors and is recognized for his hands-on, intuitive approach to recruitment. His approach prioritizes technical precision and cultural alignment to ensure long-term organizational success.

Claudiu specializes in complex and senior-level recruitment assignments and has successfully filled roles such as General Manager, Plant Manager, Global Head of Manufacturing Excellence, Regional Quality Manager. He consistently delivers niche technical and leadership profiles that drive operational and strategic performance in competitive talent markets.

Beyond executive search, Claudiu supports global companies looking to enter or scale up in Romania by offering end-to-end guidance, from market entry to team building and organizational structuring. He is known for his practical approach to business growth and serves as a trusted advisor for companies navigating regional expansion

Founded by Claudiu Morărescu, The Headhunter is a specialized executive search firm dedicated to helping multinational companies identify, attract, and hire top-tier leadership and niche talent. We specialize in complex, senior-level recruitment in the manufacturing, business process outsourcing (BPO), and shared services sectors. In addition to talent acquisition, The Headhunter supports companies looking to establish or scale operations in Romania. We provide end-to-end guidance, including market entry, team building, and organizational structuring. We combine deep market insight, technical precision, and cultural alignment to ensure long-term success for clients and candidates alike.

The Headhunter operates from Brașov and Bucharest, Romania, with a primary focus on the Romanian market. In addition, Claudiu Morărescu has successfully led executive search projects in France, Spain, the UK, the USA, and other international markets, bringing global experience to support clients expanding or hiring in Romania and the region.

The executive search process begins with a discovery call to understand your company, its culture, and the role to be filled. Once the engagement is signed, a detailed briefing meeting defines the ideal candidate profile, considering your input and current market conditions. The search then proceeds through direct outreach to passive candidates, screening interviews, and presentation of a carefully selected shortlist. This is followed by client interviews, support during offer negotiation, and assistance with onboarding to ensure a smooth transition for both the company and the candidate.

The executive recruitment process in Romania usually takes between 45 and 90 days from engagement to an accepted offer. The exact timeline depends on the role's seniority, the level of specialization required, and how quickly the client can conduct interviews and provide feedback. Highly specialized or C-level searches may take longer than director- or managerial-level positions. Additionally, most management roles in Romania require a 45-day notice period by law, which can delay the start date of the selected candidate.

Retained executive search is a recruitment model where the headhunter works exclusively on your search in exchange for an upfront retainer fee. Unlike contingency recruitment, retained search ensures dedicated focus on your project, access to passive candidates who aren't actively job-seeking, and thorough candidate assessment. The Headhunter uses retained search for senior positions.

The Headhunter recruits for C-level positions (CEO, CFO, COO, and CPO), senior management roles (Country Manager, Plant Manager, Quality Manager, Supply Chain Manager, HR Manager, Finance manager), and senior specialists. The focus is on critical business operations positions in manufacturing environments, the business process outsourcing (BPO) sector, and the shared services sector.

Executive search fees in Romania are typically calculated as a percentage of the hired candidate’s annual gross salary, depending on the complexity, specialization, and seniority of the role.

The Headhunter applies a minimum fee of 15% of the candidate’s yearly gross income, including bonuses.

For Romanian companies, all fees are subject to VAT, while companies based outside Romania may qualify for 0% VAT invoicing depending on EU and international tax regulations.

The Headhunter uses a two-stage payment structure: a 30% retainer of the estimated project value is due at contract signing, with the remaining balance invoiced when the selected candidate accepts the written employment offer.

A retainer fee ensures the headhunter dedicates exclusive time and resources to your search from day one. It covers the upfront research, market mapping, and direct outreach required to identify candidates who aren't actively looking for jobs. This model aligns incentives toward finding the right candidate rather than the fastest placement.

The Headhunter provides a 3-month guarantee on placed candidates. If a hired candidate leaves or is terminated within the first 3 months of employment, The Headhunter will conduct a replacement search at no additional fee.

When The Headhunter accepts a project, there is a very high probability of successful placement. The firm only takes on assignments it fully understands and can realistically deliver. If a role falls outside its area of expertise, The Headhunter will either refer you to a specialized partner or decline the project.

Cultural fit assessment goes beyond resume screening. The Headhunter conducts in-depth conversations with candidates to understand their working style, leadership approach, career motivations, and values. This insight is matched against the client company's culture and long-term objectives to ensure alignment beyond technical qualifications.

The Headhunter specializes in executive search for the manufacturing sector, with expertise in automotive (including OEM suppliers and Tier 1/Tier 2 companies), industrial equipment manufacturing, and other related industries. The primary focus is on multinational companies operating production facilities in Romania and the CEE region.

In addition to manufacturing, The Headhunter also works with BPO and shared-services organizations, supporting them in securing leadership and specialized talent across operational, technical, and managerial functions.

Yes. While The Headhunter’s core expertise is in manufacturing, we also recruit for BPO and shared-services organizations, as well as for multinational companies operating in related industrial sectors. Our experience covers senior and specialized roles across production, engineering, quality, operations, and support functions.

For roles outside these areas of specialization, The Headhunter will either connect you with a carefully selected partner who is better suited to that industry or openly advise that another recruiter would be a more effective fit. This transparency ensures faster results and saves time for both the client and the recruiter.

A specialized headhunter has deep industry networks, understands sector-specific role requirements, and can accurately assess candidate credibility. For manufacturing leadership roles, this means knowing which plant managers have turned around struggling operations, which engineering directors have implemented lean manufacturing, and where the talent pools exist across CEE.

Companies should consider using a headhunter when a position is senior, highly specialized, or strategically critical, and requires a targeted, proactive search rather than traditional applications. A headhunter is particularly valuable when the ideal candidates are not actively looking and therefore won’t respond to job ads or internal outreach.

External executive search is also recommended when internal HR teams lack the network, resources, or time to conduct an in-depth search, or when confidentiality is essential – for example, when replacing an existing executive. Additionally, if a role has been difficult to fill through traditional channels, a headhunter can access niche talent pools and passive candidates to deliver better results more efficiently.

A headhunter (executive search consultant) proactively identifies and approaches candidates who aren't actively job-seeking—these passive candidates often represent the best talent. Recruitment agencies typically work with candidate databases and job board applicants. Headhunters also provide deeper candidate assessment and work on fewer, higher-value searches.

Depending on the project scope, The Headhunter works either independently or with carefully selected collaborators. Whether the search will be conducted solo or with team support is communicated at the beginning of each project, ensuring full transparency about who is handling your recruitment.

The process begins with a discovery call to discuss your company, the open role, and your recruitment needs. If The Headhunter is the right fit for your search, you'll receive a proposal outlining the approach, timeline, and fee structure. Contact Claudiu Morarescu through theheadhunter.ro to schedule an initial conversation.

External executive search is also recommended when internal HR teams lack the network, resources, or time to conduct an in-depth search, or when confidentiality is essential – for example, when replacing an existing executive. Additionally, if a role has been difficult to fill through traditional channels, a headhunter can access niche talent pools and passive candidates to deliver better results more efficiently.