Automotive Recruitment Agency Belgium

Archetype recruits Sales Directors, fleet and B2B Key Account Managers, dealer network managers and Country Managers for car and truck importers, manufacturers’ Belgian subsidiaries, dealer groups and parts distributors in Belgium. Our core business is sales, marketing and management profiles, which account for over 90% of our assignments. Assignments run in French, Dutch or English, on a retainer, in 12 weeks on average, with a 6-month replacement guarantee. Automotive is one of the nine sectors we serve, and the firm has existed since 1993.

A sales director and a fleet account manager talking beside an electric car in an importer showroom — Battery electric cars made up about one in three new car registrations in Belgium in 2025, according to Eurostat.

A shrinking, electrifying market: what the data shows

According to Eurostat registration data, Belgium registered 422,041 new passenger cars in 2025, against 484,639 in 2023. Over the same two years, battery electric registrations rose from 93,482 to 144,003, about one new car in three.

Eurostat data

New passenger cars registered in Belgium

Source: Eurostat, table road_eqr_carpda, Belgium, extracted in October 2026. Electric means battery electric; hybrids are not included.

Fewer units and a different product change the sales job. A salesperson now discusses charging, energy costs and total cost of ownership with buyers who compare more offers. Some experienced managers built their careers on a growing combustion market and have to relearn part of the conversation.

What automotive sales leaders have to manage

At an importer, the Sales Director manages dealers rather than end customers: volume targets, margin schemes, brand standards and the tension between network profitability and market share. On the fleet side, the Key Account Manager deals with fleet managers, procurement and leasing companies, on tenders that run for several years. In the parts business, the sale is B2B and repeat-driven. Belgian networks span Flanders, Brussels and Wallonia, so most of these roles need at least Dutch and French. If you run transport or logistics operations, see our logistics recruitment page.

Profiles we recruit in automotive

Sales Directors and Sales Managers, see Sales Manager recruitment
Fleet and B2B Key Account Managers, see Key Account Manager recruitment
Dealer network and business development managers
Country Managers and Managing Directors, see Country Manager recruitment
Marketing and product managers for importers

We support clients and candidates before, during and after the hire. Not out of courtesy, but by design. The first three months of a sales or management hire shape what happens for the next three years. If onboarding fails, the placement is lost, regardless of how good the sourcing was. That’s why our support doesn’t stop at contract signing. It’s also why our clients come back: they aren’t signing for a recruitment, they’re signing for a long-term partnership.
The Archetype method, since 1993

Method, timing and fees

We start by challenging the brief: importer or dealer side, fleet or retail, which languages. You get a written proposal within 48 to 72 hours. Candidates are presented with a scorecard, interview transcripts and a KOAN personality profile, and we stay involved during their first months. Average time to hire is 12 weeks. Fees are set before the assignment starts, in a written proposal, on a retainer basis: never a success fee. 6-month replacement guarantee.

Example: a global car manufacturer

For a global car manufacturer, we ran a gap assessment of 40 people covering sales management and the distribution network, followed by a training path over two and a half years. The assessment showed where each person stood against the target profile, and the training addressed those gaps in order. Read more about our assessment service.

About Archetype

Archetype is a Belgian family business founded in 1993 by Marc Diamant and now co-managed with Davy Diamant and Steve Diamant. A member of Federgon, it won Talent Business Innovation of the Year 2025 for its ethical and structured use of AI.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to recruit an automotive Sales Director?

Fees are set before the assignment starts, in a written proposal, on a retainer basis: never a success fee. 6-month replacement guarantee.

How long does it take?

12 weeks on average, from signing the assignment to the candidate signing.

Do you recruit mechanics or workshop technicians?

No. We recruit sales, marketing and leadership roles only. For technical and workshop staff, contact a technical recruitment specialist, a temporary staffing agency, Le Forem, VDAB or Actiris.

Which languages do you work in?

French, Dutch and English, across Flanders, Brussels, Wallonia and the Netherlands.

Can you assess our existing sales team or dealer network?

Yes. We run gap assessments of 3 to 10 people, and larger projects such as the 40-person assessment described above, followed by targeted training or recruitment.

Looking for a Sales Director, a fleet Key Account Manager or a Country Manager in automotive? Tell us about the role and we will send a written proposal within 48 to 72 hours.

Main page: Sector expertise built since 1993

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