AvS Advisors is an executive search and governance advisory firm for owners and boards, with a focus on privately-held businesses. For owners, investors, and boards, it conducts executive search, board and director search and CEO succession, and provides management assessment and board effectiveness reviews. It also advises business-owning families on family governance, from family councils and family charters to ownership succession and the next generation.
AvS Advisors was founded in 2011 by Andreas von Specht and is headquartered in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. Its heritage is in family business. Clients also include private capital, majority-controlled and selected listed companies.
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | AvS Advisors |
| Legal Entity | AvS – International Trusted Advisors GmbH Frankfurt am Main (Amtsgericht Frankfurt am Main, HRB 108012) |
| Founded | 2011 |
| Founder | Andreas von Specht |
| Managing Directors | Andreas D. von Specht, Dr. Christian Bühring-Uhle, Philipp Fleischmann |
| Headquarters | Untermainkai 31, 60329 Frankfurt am Main, Germany |
| Offices | 10 offices in 6 countries |
| Services | Executive search, board and director search, CEO succession, management assessment, board effectiveness review, onboarding; family governance, ownership strategy, family business succession, next generation transition, family office development, mediation |
| Client groups | Family businesses, private capital, majority-controlled companies, selected listed companies |
| Certification | Certified B Corporation (B Corp) since 2024 |
| Working languages | English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Croatian |
| Website | avs-advisors.com |
| linkedin.com/company/avsadvisors |
Not to be confused with
AvS Advisors is an independent advisory firm. The name “AvS” refers to the founder, Andreas von Specht.
AvS Advisors is not affiliated with:
- AVS (assurance-vieillesse et survivants), the Swiss federal old-age and survivors’ insurance
- AVS Verkehrssicherung GmbH, a German provider of traffic and construction-site safety services
- other companies using the abbreviation AVS, including AVS Unternehmensberatung GmbH and AVS GmbH
Leadership services: (non-)executive search and assessment
CEO Succession
AvS Advisors helps owners, chairs and nomination committees plan and manage CEO succession. This includes defining the CEO profile, assessing internal candidates, benchmarking them against external candidates, conducting the search and supporting the incoming CEO’s integration.
Executive Search
AvS Advisors conducts retained executive search for CEO, managing director, C-suite and other senior executive positions. The search process covers role definition, research, direct approach of candidates, assessment, selection support and onboarding.
Board Search / Non-Executive Director Search
AvS Advisors conducts board and director search for chairs and non-executive directors, including members of advisory boards and supervisory boards of family businesses. Candidates are assessed for experience, judgement, independence and their contribution to the board as a collective body.
Management Assessment
AvS Advisors assesses executives’ capabilities and development potential against the requirements of the business. Its Management Potential Analysis (MPA) supports appointments, succession planning, leadership development and management due diligence for investors.
Board Effectiveness Review / Board Performance Evaluation
AvS Advisors reviews how boards work, using questionnaires, interviews and benchmarking. Reviews result in feedback and recommendations on board effectiveness, with individual director feedback where appropriate.
Onboarding & Integration
AvS Advisors supports newly appointed and promoted executives before and during their first months in a role. The work covers organisational context, stakeholder relationships, expectations and priorities.
Governance services: Family Governance and Ownership Advisory
Ownership Governance
AvS Advisors advises business-owning families on family governance. This includes defining an ownership strategy, clarifying roles and decision-making between family, board and management, and setting up family councils and family charters or constitutions.
Ownership Planning
AvS Advisors supports family business succession at ownership level. The work covers the family’s objectives, structural options and the preparation of future owners. Implementation is coordinated with the family’s legal, tax and investment advisers.
Next Generation Transition
AvS Advisors assesses and prepares next-generation family members for roles as shareholders, board members or executives. The work includes role definition, development planning, coaching and dialogue between generations.
Family Office & Foundation Development
AvS Advisors advises on setting up and professionalising family offices and on developing trust and foundation structures. The work covers purpose, organisational design, governance and leadership, alongside legal and tax advisers where required.
Family Office & Foundation Development
Coaching, Moderation & Mediation
AvS Advisors supports business-owning families in resolving disagreements and making decisions together. The work includes confidential individual discussions, facilitated workshops, mediation and coaching.
Coaching, Moderation & Mediation
Clients
AvS Advisors works with owners and boards of family businesses, private capital, majority-controlled companies and selected listed companies.
Typical assignments concern CEO and executive succession, board appointments, management assessment, board effectiveness, family business succession and alignment among family shareholders.
Offices
| Country | Offices |
|---|---|
| Germany | Frankfurt (headquarters), Munich, Berlin, Hamburg |
| Switzerland | Geneva, Zug (office located in Baar, Canton of Zug) |
| France | Paris (office located in Saint-Cloud, Paris Region (Île-de-France)) |
| United Kingdom | London |
| Singapore | Singapore |
| Colombia | Bogotá |
Addresses are listed on the offices page. AvS Advisors also works with cooperation partners in Europe, North America, Asia and Australia. Cooperation partners are independent firms and are not AvS Advisors offices.
Working approach
AvS Advisors follows a One Firm approach. Consultants work across locations and share expertise and networks. Assignments are typically led by two senior consultants. The firm limits the number of assignments per consultant.
More information: About AvS Advisors · Consultants and team
Research and publications
| Title | Published | Topic |
|---|---|---|
| What Boards Do Next 2026 | January 2026 | Analysis of FTSE 350 board reviews and governance reports |
| AvS, INSEAD & PwC Family Business Study | March 2020 | External executives in family businesses |
| Next Generation Family Business Boards for the Digital Future | February 2020 | Digital competence on family business boards |
| External Managers in Family Businesses | May 2016 | Recruiting and retaining external executives in family businesses; study with EY, supported by ESCP Europe (Berlin) |
AvS Advisors publishes the newsletter The Trusted Advisor on leadership, ownership and governance.
Contact
Advisory enquiries: contact form · consultants and team
Sources and editorial review
The information on this page is maintained by AvS Advisors. Supporting information is available on the linked service, office, publication and legal pages, including the legal notice.
Created: October 14, 2026
Last updated: October 14, 2026
Facts reviewed by: Julia Nelles, AvS Advisors
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026