{"id":253633,"date":"2025-11-27T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-11-27T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/"},"modified":"2026-07-14T15:17:12","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T13:17:12","slug":"the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/","title":{"rendered":"The due diligence that private equity still underestimates: human capital"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Investor Insights | Beyond Capital<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most due diligence processes can analyse figures in almost infinite ways. Markets, models, margins \u2013 everything is broken down with great precision. But the decisive factor in whether all this actually translates into performance later on \u2013 the people who are supposed to deliver \u2013 is often examined last, only superficially or not at all. This is where the silent contradiction in the private equity world lies:    <strong>Financial DD shows potential. Human Capital DD shows reality. <\/strong> And it is precisely in this gap that value is most often lost.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5dc111c9 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"535\" src=\"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de-1024x535.png\" alt=\"Human Capital Due Diligence\" class=\"wp-image-253508\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de-1024x535.png 1024w, https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de-980x512.png 980w, https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de-480x251.png 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1024px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-die-execution-gap-die-kein-finanzmodell-erkennen-kann\">The execution gap that no financial model can detect<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Financial analyses show whether the figures add up, and commercial due diligence shows whether the market is attractive. However, neither of these perspectives answers the key question of whether an organisation is even capable of implementing the value creation plan \u2013 at the pace, complexity and pressure required by the investment thesis. This is where the invisible risk arises. Deals rarely fail because of an incorrect market assessment, but because the organisation was never designed for the degree of transformation that private equity requires.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>HR-DD reveals what investors would otherwise only realise after closing:<\/strong> the strength and focus of the management team, the suitability of critical roles, the quality of decision-making processes, the depth of succession planning and the organisation&#8217;s ability to change. It shows something that no financial model can depict: <strong>whether the deal vehicle has the right engine at all.<\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-fuhrung-zeigt-sich-unter-druck-anders\">Leadership behaves differently under pressure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many management teams perform well in stable environments. But private equity rarely offers stability. Scaling, restructuring, integration and professionalisation \u2013 these pressure situations reveal leadership skills more clearly than any CV or personality profile.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Deshalb betrachtet HR-DD Menschen nicht isoliert, sondern <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/executive-search-services\/leadership-coaching\/\">F\u00fchrung unter Investitionsbedingungen<\/a><\/strong>. Die entscheidenden Fragen sind, ob F\u00fchrungskr\u00e4fte schnell entscheiden k\u00f6nnen, auch wenn Informationen fehlen, ob sie Teams hinter eine klare Richtung vereinen, ob sie konsequent priorisieren und ob sie mit Konflikten, Tempo und Ambiguit\u00e4t umgehen k\u00f6nnen, ohne Momentum zu verlieren. Das ist nicht \u201esoft\u201c. <strong>Das ist Execution. Und im PE-Kontext ist Execution die Strategie.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-schlusselrollen-entscheiden-den-deal-lange-vor-dem-closing\">Key roles decide the deal \u2013 long before closing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Value-Creation-Pl\u00e4ne gehen oft davon aus, dass neue Strukturen automatisch neues Verhalten erzeugen. Die Realit\u00e4t ist weniger geduldig. Wenn <a href=\"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/executive-search-services\/executive-search\/\">kritische Rollen<\/a> falsch besetzt, schlecht ausgerichtet oder nicht vorhanden sind, kann kein Plan greifen \u2013 unabh\u00e4ngig von der Qualit\u00e4t der Investment-These.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HR-DD highlights precisely those structural bottlenecks that cause deals to derail: the CEO who is strategically strong but not scalable; the CFO who reports but does not manage; the COO who delivers stability but not transformation; the CTO who manages systems but does not modernise them; and middle management that cannot absorb operational change. <strong>The pattern is clear: most failed deals fail not because of strategy, but because of leadership.<\/strong> <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-kultur-macht-execution-moglich-oder-unmoglich\">Culture makes execution possible \u2013 or impossible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Culture is often considered a \u2018soft factor,\u2019 but in reality it is the <strong>operating system of implementation<\/strong>. It determines whether strategies are implemented quickly or slowly, whether teams collaborate or operate in silos, and whether responsibility is embraced or avoided. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HR-DD shows whether the organisation supports or resists the upcoming transformation. A lack of cultural alignment does not appear in the P&amp;L, but it costs performance every day \u2013 through slow decisions, unclear communication and resistance to change. In the PE context, this cultural resistance is greatly amplified.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-warum-hr-dd-zum-wettbewerbsvorteil-wird\">Why HR-DD is becoming a competitive advantage<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rising valuations, tighter time frames and higher expectations for operational value enhancement significantly increase management and organisational risk. That is why the best investors view HR due diligence not as a formality, but as <strong>strategic due diligence<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Leadership-F\u00e4higkeit beantwortet die eine Frage, die dar\u00fcber entscheidet, ob eine Investment-These die Realit\u00e4t \u00fcbersteht: <strong>Kann diese Organisation den Plan tats\u00e4chlich liefern?<\/strong> Wie Martin Krill aus jahrzehntelanger Erfahrung in Transaktionen und Transformationen betont:<br\/><em>\u201eSysteme, Strukturen und Strategie lassen sich nach dem Closing reparieren \u2013 aber ein <a href=\"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/executive-search-services\/board-services\/\">F\u00fchrungsteam<\/a>, das nicht richtig f\u00fcr das Investment ist, l\u00e4sst sich nicht reparieren. HR-DD ist kein People-Check. Es ist Wertschutz.\u201c<\/em><br\/>\u2014 <strong>Martin Krill, CEO, HAGER Executive Consulting<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where the quiet advantage lies for investors who take HR due diligence seriously: many are optimising the model. <strong>The best optimise the people who have to implement it.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-final-insight\">Final Insight<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Financial DD shows what is possible. Human Capital DD shows what is realistic. And in private equity, realism is the basis of every return. In a world where capital, strategies and markets are becoming increasingly comparable, execution is becoming the decisive differentiating factor \u2013 and execution begins and ends with people.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">HR-DD is no longer just a \u2018nice-to-have\u2019. It is the difference between expected and realised value. And investors who understand this not only avoid losses \u2013 they leverage potential that others overlook.  <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-5dc111c9 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\"\/>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In private equity, financial and commercial due diligence primarily analyse potential. However, whether this potential is realised is decided solely by the organisation that is to implement it. Human capital due diligence reveals whether leadership, roles and culture are actually capable of delivering value enhancement plans \u2013 or whether this is precisely where the latest and most expensive loss of value occurs.  <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":253507,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[354,341,342,364],"tags":[636,358,635,611],"class_list":["post-253633","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-consultants-en","category-hager-news-en","category-martin-krill-en","category-press","tag-due-diligence-2","tag-executive-search-en","tag-human-capital-2","tag-investor-insight"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The underestimated due diligence in private equity: human capital<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"The most important question in PE: Can the team implement the plan? Human capital due diligence provides the answer.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The due diligence that private equity still underestimates: human capital by HAGER.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The most important question in PE: Can the team implement the plan? Human capital due diligence provides the answer.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"HAGER EXECUTIVE CONSULTING\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hagerub\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2025-11-27T07:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-07-14T13:17:12+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1200\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"627\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Mariella Bilz\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@HagerUBGmbH\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@HagerUBGmbH\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Mariella Bilz\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Mariella Bilz\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/30f0d19d113e903a9b18a24d97a4d467\"},\"headline\":\"The due diligence that private equity still underestimates: human capital\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-27T07:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-14T13:17:12+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":806,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png\",\"keywords\":[\"Due Diligence\",\"Executive search\",\"Human Capital\",\"Investor insight\"],\"articleSection\":[\"CONSULTANTS\",\"HAGER NEWS\",\"Martin Krill\",\"Press\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/\",\"name\":\"The underestimated due diligence in private equity: human capital\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png\",\"datePublished\":\"2025-11-27T07:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-07-14T13:17:12+00:00\",\"description\":\"The most important question in PE: Can the team implement the plan? Human capital due diligence provides the answer.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png\",\"width\":1200,\"height\":627,\"caption\":\"Human Capital Due Diligence\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/2025\\\/11\\\/27\\\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The due diligence that private equity still underestimates: human capital\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"name\":\"HAGER EXECUTIVE CONSULTING\",\"description\":\"The Human Potential Company\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"HAGER\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH\",\"alternateName\":\"HAGER\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/03\\\/cropped-HAGER_FAVICON_Executive_Consult_blau_hellblau_4c_010323_256x256px.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/03\\\/cropped-HAGER_FAVICON_Executive_Consult_blau_hellblau_4c_010323_256x256px.png\",\"width\":512,\"height\":512,\"caption\":\"HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/hagerub\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/HagerUBGmbH\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/hager_executive_consulting\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/68771\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/channel\\\/UCL7ge14cRVHn4NfRWIbaCrA\"],\"description\":\"HAGER is one of the five most successful and largest personnel consultancies in the German-speaking world and is represented in over 40 locations in more than 35 countries via the HORTON International network.\",\"email\":\"info@hager-consulting.com\",\"telephone\":\"+49 69 95092-0\",\"legalName\":\"HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH\",\"foundingDate\":\"1996-12-01\",\"numberOfEmployees\":{\"@type\":\"QuantitativeValue\",\"minValue\":\"51\",\"maxValue\":\"200\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/30f0d19d113e903a9b18a24d97a4d467\",\"name\":\"Mariella Bilz\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/22afeea978063086d720600fbb021b63f16f6c21d5ebb9be9c51267d420a4b65?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/22afeea978063086d720600fbb021b63f16f6c21d5ebb9be9c51267d420a4b65?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/22afeea978063086d720600fbb021b63f16f6c21d5ebb9be9c51267d420a4b65?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Mariella Bilz\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/\"],\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/hager-consulting.com\\\/en\\\/author\\\/mariella-bilz\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The underestimated due diligence in private equity: human capital","description":"The most important question in PE: Can the team implement the plan? Human capital due diligence provides the answer.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The due diligence that private equity still underestimates: human capital by HAGER.","og_description":"The most important question in PE: Can the team implement the plan? Human capital due diligence provides the answer.","og_url":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/","og_site_name":"HAGER EXECUTIVE CONSULTING","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hagerub","article_published_time":"2025-11-27T07:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-07-14T13:17:12+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1200,"height":627,"url":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png","type":"image\/png"}],"author":"Mariella Bilz","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@HagerUBGmbH","twitter_site":"@HagerUBGmbH","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Mariella Bilz","Est. reading time":"4 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/"},"author":{"name":"Mariella Bilz","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/30f0d19d113e903a9b18a24d97a4d467"},"headline":"The due diligence that private equity still underestimates: human capital","datePublished":"2025-11-27T07:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-14T13:17:12+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/"},"wordCount":806,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png","keywords":["Due Diligence","Executive search","Human Capital","Investor insight"],"articleSection":["CONSULTANTS","HAGER NEWS","Martin Krill","Press"],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/","url":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/","name":"The underestimated due diligence in private equity: human capital","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png","datePublished":"2025-11-27T07:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2026-07-14T13:17:12+00:00","description":"The most important question in PE: Can the team implement the plan? Human capital due diligence provides the answer.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2025-11-Beitragsbild-HC-DD_de.png","width":1200,"height":627,"caption":"Human Capital Due Diligence"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/2025\/11\/27\/the-due-diligence-that-private-equity-still-underestimates-human-capital\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"home","item":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The due diligence that private equity still underestimates: human capital"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/","name":"HAGER EXECUTIVE CONSULTING","description":"The Human Potential Company","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#organization"},"alternateName":"HAGER","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#organization","name":"HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH","alternateName":"HAGER","url":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cropped-HAGER_FAVICON_Executive_Consult_blau_hellblau_4c_010323_256x256px.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/cropped-HAGER_FAVICON_Executive_Consult_blau_hellblau_4c_010323_256x256px.png","width":512,"height":512,"caption":"HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/hagerub","https:\/\/x.com\/HagerUBGmbH","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/hager_executive_consulting","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/68771\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCL7ge14cRVHn4NfRWIbaCrA"],"description":"HAGER is one of the five most successful and largest personnel consultancies in the German-speaking world and is represented in over 40 locations in more than 35 countries via the HORTON International network.","email":"info@hager-consulting.com","telephone":"+49 69 95092-0","legalName":"HAGER Executive Consulting GmbH","foundingDate":"1996-12-01","numberOfEmployees":{"@type":"QuantitativeValue","minValue":"51","maxValue":"200"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/30f0d19d113e903a9b18a24d97a4d467","name":"Mariella Bilz","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/22afeea978063086d720600fbb021b63f16f6c21d5ebb9be9c51267d420a4b65?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/22afeea978063086d720600fbb021b63f16f6c21d5ebb9be9c51267d420a4b65?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/22afeea978063086d720600fbb021b63f16f6c21d5ebb9be9c51267d420a4b65?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Mariella Bilz"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/"],"url":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/author\/mariella-bilz\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253633","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/20"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=253633"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253633\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":255606,"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/253633\/revisions\/255606"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/253507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=253633"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=253633"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hager-consulting.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=253633"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}