Michael Klingler

Michael Klingler is a partner and leader within the global Healthcare & Life Sciences (HLS) practice at Acertitude. In this capacity, he oversees the European HLS team and significant relationships with board members, CEOs, and private equity executives across Europe and the Americas.

Michael and his team deliver executive search, leadership assessment, and private equity services across the pre- and post-deal phases, all areas in which he has in-depth expertise spanning hundreds of assignments and more than two decades as an advisor. From a sector standpoint, he is highly specialized in the pharmaceuticals, chemicals, biotechnology, diagnostics, medical devices, health tech, health services, CDMO, and CRO industries.

He joins Acertitude from his role as CEO and owner of KPI Leadership Advisors, where he similarly served mid- and large-cap private equity funds dedicated to the healthcare and life sciences sector. Prior, Michael was managing director of healthcare and life sciences and head of the DACH region for a PE-specialized executive search, leadership development, and deal advisory firm. He spent the three years before that as chief commercial officer and board member with another boutique, an international executive search and leadership development firm focused on the life sciences space, responsible for all commercial and strategic business activities.

Michael previously spent seventeen years building one of the leading global life sciences executive search boutiques, RSVP GROUP AG, as managing partner, co-owner, and board member. There, he leveraged the full extent of his strong entrepreneurial, strategic, and operational knowledge and passion for people to build out the Americas market and, later, replicated this success in Asia. His remit spanned corporate strategy and operations to business development and recruiting, developing, and leading the team.

Michael spent his earlier career in strategy consulting and holds an MBA from the Bayerische Julius Maximilians Universität Würzburg.

Michael lives in Wiesbaden, Germany with his wife and is the proud father of two daughters and a son. On days off, he enjoys lots of sports, mainly tennis, golf, and skiing, and time with family. Michael is a curious cook in his own kitchen, often hosting friends for good dinners and good conversations. For him, relationships are what life is all about.