Düsseldorf has successfully leveraged its strengths as a leading business and financial centre in Germany to grow and expand its marketing industry. The blend of international companies and a strong connection to the region's diverse industrial base have led to a blossoming advertising scene. With headquarters for seven DAX and Fortune Global 500 companies and numerous influential trade fairs, Düsseldorf has become a dynamic player in the global marketing and business landscape. Home to over 400 advertising agencies and 200 publishing houses, Düsseldorf’s marketing industry is rooted in the region’s history. The city has a long history in the telecommunications industry in Germany, rising to be a critical hub populated by both global companies and SMEs. Düsseldorf’s unique market profile supports a range of industries, including consumer goods, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, technology, and the automotive sector. This connection is enhanced by the “Mittelstand” culture of the Rhine-Ruhr region, where small and medium-sized enterprises contribute a significant share to Germany’s economy. Adding to the city’s global reach, Düsseldorf has developed strong economic and cultural ties with Japan since the 1960s. As of now, Düsseldorf is home to a massive Japanese community, which only trails behind London and Paris in size. It’s not uncommon to see the headquarters of several Japanese banks and corporations establishing their European headquarters there. This international link has enriched Düsseldorf’s marketing and business sectors, with unique cross-cultural insights flowing between Europe and Japan, especially in areas such as technology, manufacturing, and consumer services. Executive search and leadership consulting firm Signium represents another dimension of Düsseldorf’s marketing and business scene. Signium works globally but offers specialised local expertise, providing executive search and leadership development services to clients in sectors like pharmaceuticals, consumer goods, and finance. Signium’s approach to candidate selection combines an assessment of skills with an instinctual grasp of interpersonal dynamics and leadership qualities, which they call a balance of intelligence and intuition.