The builder
Has built an HR function or specialism from scratch. Knows how to get started when the systems and team aren't there yet.
HR executive search · Founder-led · Europe
A new HR role. Who fits?
MVRK is an HR executive search practice for mid-to-senior HR roles across Europe, often roles a business hasn't had before. We work out what the role needs and find someone who can take it on.
Stage 02 · Brief
What do you need this person to do?
Before we look for candidates, we talk through why you need the role and what a good first year would look like.
01
What should be different a year after they join?
02
Which decisions will they need to make themselves?
03
How might their responsibilities grow with the business?
Stage 03 · Market
The right person may have a different title.
We look at what people have done and the businesses they've worked in. That helps us find candidates you might otherwise miss, and explain where each person fits or falls short.
The operator
Can advise leadership and still get involved in the everyday work that keeps an HR team running.
The translator
Can turn a business plan into practical HR work, even when teams in different countries need different approaches.
“Matteo was able to deliver not only great candidates but also helpful insights on market and organizational approach.”
Global Senior Manager Talent & Reward, Arcese Group
Stage 05 · Working together
Work with Matteo, from brief to appointment.
I'm Matteo, MVRK's founder. I take on a small number of searches at a time so I can stay involved in each one. We'll work together on the brief, discuss the candidates, and talk through the difficult decisions.
Matteo Muscio Founder / MVRK
Stage 06 · Your next hire
Let's talk about the role.
You don't need a finished job description. Tell us why you're hiring and where you're unsure. We can take it from there.
Patterns from the search desk
Insight 15 October 2026
How to hire your first Head of HR
A first Head of HR has to advise the leadership team and set up the basics of HR. How to tell when you need one, write a realistic brief and find the right person.
- 01 Recruitment
- 02 Leadership
- 03 Best Practices
Read article
Insight 12 October 2026
The coding test is becoming a judgment test
HackerRank's AI interviewer now scores how engineers work with AI, while 62% of organisations still ban AI in technical interviews. What that means for assessing engineers.
- 01 AI
- 02 Recruitment
Read article
Insight 1 May 2025
Don't waste your shortlist
The finalists you didn't hire last time are often the quickest route to your next hire. How to go back to them well, and what the GDPR asks of you.
- 01 Recruitment
- 02 Best Practices
Read article
Frequently asked questions
What to expect when you work with us.
What does MVRK mean by HR executive search?
We research and approach HR professionals directly, including people who are not looking at job adverts. Our focus is mid-to-senior HR roles, often when a business is hiring for the position for the first time.
How does retained search differ from contingent recruitment?
In a retained search, you appoint one firm to lead the search and pay in agreed stages. Contingent recruitment charges a fee when a candidate is placed. We work on a retained basis, with responsibility for researching the market, approaching candidates, and helping you choose.
What is confidential search?
It means keeping the company name, the role, or both private at the start of the search. This can matter when replacing someone, during a transaction, or before a business is ready to announce a new role. We agree what can be shared, and when, before approaching candidates.
What HR roles does MVRK work on?
Most of our work is on mid-management roles up to the level below CPO, including senior HR business partners, heads of talent acquisition, learning and development leaders, compensation and benefits leads, and HR directors for new regions or business units. We have also placed a Chief People Officer, but CPO searches are not our core focus.
Why choose MVRK for HR executive search?
We recruit exclusively for HR. Matteo leads each search himself and takes on a small number at a time, so you work with the same person from the brief through to the appointment.
What industries does MVRK serve?
We work across industries, including logistics, manufacturing, technology, financial services, and luxury retail. Our specialism is the HR role itself and how it needs to develop as the business changes.
What is MVRK's search process?
We start with what you need the person to do and how the role may develop. Then we research and approach relevant candidates discreetly. Each recommendation comes with a written explanation of why the person could fit. We stay involved through interviews and the appointment.
Where does MVRK operate?
We work mainly across Europe: Italy, France, the UK, Benelux, the Nordics, and the German-speaking markets. We also take on selected searches in the Gulf, in Qatar and the UAE.