Sparring partner for CEOs and managing directors in Frankfurt
Ihr Coaching Institut is the confidential sparring partners For CEOs, managing directors, and managing partners. They think through decisions they can't share internally with anyone – with coaches who have themselves run companies. Discreetly in Frankfurt's Nordend district, online, or on-site in the Rhine-Main region.
Schedule your discreet initial consultation.
35 certified coaches including ex-CEOs, Harvard affiliates and TED speakers
Individual matching The right expert for your challenge
DAX references Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Lufthansa and others
Last updated on September 26, 2026 · Professional review by the ICI Senior Coach Team
When a sparring partner is more beneficial than a coach
Things get quiet at the top. The advisory board expects results, the shareholders pursue their own interests, the team needs guidance – and you can't openly discuss the question that's really on your mind with any of them. That's precisely what CEO sparring is for: a counterpart without their own agenda, who thinks along with you, offers constructive criticism, and helps you reach a clear decision.
Decisions that you cannot discuss internally
The departure of a long-serving member of the management team, a potential sale, an acquisition, or a reorganization of the top management level: In such matters, every internal conversation is already news. In sparring sessions, you examine options, risks, and the sequence of events before anyone else in the company finds out.
Between shareholders, advisory board and operational management
Managing partners are caught between their role as owners and day-to-day operations. We help you prepare advisory board and shareholder meetings, clarify competing interests, and resolve entrenched conflicts – with support if needed. Business mediation through a neutral third party.
Succession, handover and exit
In family-run medium-sized businesses around Frankfurt, succession is often the most difficult decision of an entrepreneur's life: When is the right time, who will take over, and what role will you have afterward? A sparring partner helps to separate the practical and personal aspects of this question.
Crisis, restructuring and turnaround
Liquidity pressure, job cuts, negotiations with banks or works councils: In a crisis, you have to make quick decisions under scrutiny. Sparring sessions provide you with a space where you can honestly analyze scenarios and prepare your communication – without any uncertainty leaking out.
The first 100 days as a new CEO
Those who rise to the top inherit expectations, loyalties, and unfinished business. We'll help you structure your first few months: Who do you need to win over first, which decisions can wait, and how will you be judged after a year?
This is how CEO sparring works at our company.
1. Confidential initial consultation
In 30 free minutes, you describe your situation. We'll determine whether sparring is the right format for you – or whether a different approach would be more suitable. Business Coaching or that a longer coaching process might be more beneficial.
2. Matching with the right sparring partner
From our network of 35 coaches, we will suggest a person who understands your situation from their own experience – for example, from management in a medium-sized company, a corporate board, or a restructuring process. You decide after a brief introductory meeting.
3. Sparring as needed instead of a rigid hourly package
Many clients work on a regular schedule, for example, once a month. Others call specifically before making important decisions. Appointments are also possible early in the morning or in the evening, on Oeder Weg, at a neutral location, or... encrypted online.
4. Outcome instead of meeting minutes
Each meeting ends with a clear decision or the next concrete steps. At longer intervals, we jointly review what has been implemented and what impact it has had.
Methods in CEO sparring
Effective sparring is more than just a clever conversation. Our coaches use proven tools to make decisions robust:
- Pre-mortem: They imagine that the decision has failed in a year and name the reasons – a method developed by psychologist Gary Klein in the Harvard Business Review described.
- Scenarios and decision matrix: Options are evaluated against pre-defined criteria, not against gut feeling on the day.
- Stakeholder map: Who wins, who loses, who needs to be convinced first.
- Devil's Advocate Your sparring partner deliberately takes the opposing position so that weaknesses become visible before implementation.
- Systemic questioning techniques: They make dynamics within management and the shareholder base visible.
- LINC Personality Profiler: Upon request, a thorough analysis of your own decision-making and leadership style.
Sparring, business or executive coaching – which suits you best?
| Format | For whom | Typical question |
|---|---|---|
| Sparring partner CEO | CEOs, managing directors, managing partners | Individual, confidential decisions – short-term and as needed |
| Business Coaching | Entrepreneurs, management, small and medium-sized enterprises | Growth, scaling, strategic transformations |
| Executive Coaching | Board members and C-level executives in corporations | Power, politics, boardroom communication |
What our clients say
„After 3 months of coaching, I completely reorganized my management team - turnover dropped by 40%. No comparison to previous coaching experiences.“
Dr. M. K. - CEO, Technologie-Mittelstand
„Sparring with my coach helped me to navigate a 200 million acquisition cleanly. Discreetly, directly, without detours.“
C. D. - Management Board, DAX Group
„As a founder, I was missing an honest sparring partner at eye level. I found one here - and my company has been growing profitably ever since.“
S. R. - Managing Director, Scale-up Frankfurt
The ROI of CEO Sparring
The benefit can be measured by a single question: What does a wrong decision at your level cost? A bad appointment in management, a poorly prepared acquisition, or six months of stagnation among shareholders can quickly cost many times more than a whole year of sparring.
Research also supports coaching at the leadership level: In the client study of International Coaching Federation (ICF) 86 of the surveyed companies stated that they had at least recouped their investment in coaching.
Transparent pricing: We charge €330 per hour for companies and €220 per hour for self-paying clients, both plus VAT. RAUEN Coaching Market Analysis The average hourly rate in a business context is around €240; executive formats are higher. More information can be found on our page about... Costs for coaching. The initial consultation is free of charge.
Why CEO sparring in Frankfurt
Frankfurt and the Rhine-Main region are home to a concentration of banks, consulting firms, international corporate headquarters, and a strong, often family-run, medium-sized business sector in the surrounding area. The network in which CEOs operate is correspondingly dense – and it is correspondingly difficult to find someone to talk to who isn't involved somewhere.
Our offices on Oeder Weg in the Nordend district are centrally located yet away from the office towers. Many clients come from the surrounding area, for example from... Bad Homburg, Wiesbaden, Mainz or Darmstadt. Those who are on the go can continue working with us online.
Founder's vision: Sparring based on personal experience
Tim S. Tabrizi founded the institute because he knows the challenges of being at the top from his own experience: as a board member at WS Audiology, as General Manager of the Sivantos Group, and currently as Group CEO and Chairman of the Board of infoteam Software AG. His standard for every sparring session is the same as he sets for himself – honesty, confidentiality, and a focus on reaching a decision. Learn more about his career at [website address]. LinkedIn.
Our customers come from:
Frequently asked questions from CEOs and managing directors
What distinguishes a sparring partner from a coach or consultant?
A consultant provides solutions, a coach guides a development process. A sparring partner works with you as an equal, brainstorming concrete decisions – drawing on their own leadership experience, but without any vested interest in your company. The final decision always remains with you.
How confidential is the sparring?
Confidentiality is contractually agreed upon. No information will be shared with shareholders, the advisory board, or the HR department without your explicit consent – even if the company bears the costs. Discussions will take place in our offices in the Nordend district, at a neutral location, or securely online.
How often do you meet?
This depends on your situation. Typically, there is one appointment per month, supplemented by shorter meetings before important decisions. There is no minimum contract period.
How much does a sparring partner cost for managing directors?
For companies, the rate is €330 per hour; for self-paying clients, it's €220 per hour, both plus VAT. The initial consultation is free. You can find an overview on the page. Coaching costs.
Can the company cover the costs?
Yes, in most cases the company bears the costs. Please consult your tax advisor regarding the tax treatment.
Do you also help with conflicts among shareholders?
Yes. In sparring, we prepare your position. If all parties are to sit down together, we facilitate a Business mediation through a neutral mediator.
Which coaches work as sparring partners?
We exclusively use coaches with their own leadership experience at the executive or board level, including former corporate board members like Heinrich von Pierer. The coach we recommend depends on your specific situation and industry.
About the author
Tim S. Tabrizi (Global Executive MBA, IESE Business School) is the founder of the Ihr Coaching Institute in Frankfurt and Group CEO and Chairman of the Board of infoteam Software AG. Previously, he was a board member at WS Audiology and General Manager of the Sivantos Group – 28 years in medical technology, telecommunications, and software, over 20 of them in leadership positions. As a sparring partner, he works with managing directors and CEOs who are responsible for decisions and are looking for an honest sounding board. LinkedIn profile | Ihr Coaching Institut on LinkedIn