About - Lilien Gerlach
For more than 20 years in executive search and headhunting, I have seen how professional satisfaction, loyalty, and motivation shift long before numbers show it. Skilled headhunters do not persuade people to leave. They approach respectfully, recognising that openness to change usually reflects deeper needs: growth, recognition, or alignment. Over time, I learned to recognise these dynamics instinctively. But instinct alone is not enough.
Why instinct isn't enough
Research shows disengagement starts months before surveys or KPIs detect it. Quiet quitting and burnout are just surface symptoms of deeper motivational changes. On our Retention Audit page, we show how these early risks can be detected and addressed before they escalate.
Academic foundation
To close this gap, I deepened my expertise with an MSc in Communication, Behaviour & Credibility Analysis (Manchester Metropolitan University) — the only MSc worldwide specialising in behavioural and credibility analysis, UK-accredited and internationally recognised.
This qualification underpins a consulting approach that integrates behavioural interviewing, credibility assessment, and verbal/non-verbal analysis into real-world leadership and retention challenges. Very few professionals worldwide hold these competencies at Master's level — and fewer still apply them to executive and corporate HR contexts.
What we created
Based on this foundation, I developed the Retention Audit a structured, respectful process that detects early signs of loyalty erosion, motivational shifts, or hidden disengagement. Today, we apply this method to help organisations protect people and leadership pipelines.
Originally designed for high-stakes environments where precision and trust are critical, it is now adapted to corporate contexts where retention and credibility are mission-critical. A practical example is shared in our Case Studies
Our differentiators
We uncover the real drivers behind behaviour — hidden motivations beyond the reach of KPIs, algorithms, and standard HR methods.
Our focus
- Executive Search. Finance and advisory — tax advisors, auditors, CFO offices.
- Behavioural & Credibility Consulting. Finance, professional services, legal, healthcare, technology, and energy — wherever high trust, discretion, and retention are essential.
Our standards
Everything we do is fully aligned with GDPR, ESG, and best practices for employee dignity and data protection. Sensitive information is never reused, recycled, or disclosed. Protecting trust is at the core of our work.
The outcome
Through scientifically grounded analysis and ethical application, we help organisations act earlier, strengthen leadership pipelines, retain high performers, and reduce the financial and cultural costs of turnover. Our clients are not simply reacting to symptoms. They are safeguarding their most valuable asset — their people — with care, insight, and integrity.
