Headhunter

Vestergaard backed out. He got a call and had reception fetch his bags.

Our talk ends here. I'm not interested.

I'm asking for five minutes of your time.

You don't want to be seen with me, so here's the deal:

You're not here, and I'm not here. But if we were -

- and I asked you to lead the company that will remain nameless -

- provided we meet all your demands... All of them...

Would you want to hear more? Just nod or shake your head.

Good.

My client wants to negotiate with you and understands that you're wary -

- of leaving a solid company for one with a budget in the red.

Your talent isn't damage control, but being a strategic and visionary CEO.

- But the board wants someone else. - You've been misinformed.

You're right. You're not the best qualified candidate.

Far from it.

But you're the right man for the job.

The board members who don't want you are on their way out.

This information doesn't exist yet, in principle.

First a press release from the group I represent -

- which is also the future owner of the nameless company in question.

Officially it's not written yet -

- but scroll down, and you'll find an Excel sheet with the investment plan.

The future owners have got more than enough resources to win the market.

All they need is a creative CEO to win the battle for them.

Only you can do that.

Well?

Are you sitting in a Mercedes beneath the Hilton talking to me?

Good.

Martin speaking. Have Jesper contact Vestergaard. He's ripe.

So, a major Scandinavian development company just got a new CEO?

But that's a triumph, Martin!

- When can I publish the story? - You get an exclusive interview.

- You don't have to pay me. - I know how cheap your paper is.

You're a brilliant researcher and my friend.

You don't pay friends. But let's go paint the town.

Take it. You and your family need it.

Christ!

How are the boys doing?

Fine, or... well, they've got a fever and diarrhoea.

And Gorm's got writer's cramp somewhere in the Renaissance again.

- Is he ever going to finish that book? - Pernille called me three times.

She's scared, Martin. Things are looking bleak for Jacob.

You do know the hospital is running new tests?

He's your son, Martin.

When was the last time you saw him?

Troels, look who's here.

- The doctors are in conference. - Hi, Martin. Good to see you.

- You can go in and see Jacob now. - No, I have to leave right away.

I once suggested Troels to adopt Jacob.

- What the hell are you saying? - It's the best solution.

- It's what I want. - He doesn't want to see his own son.

Great timing! You sure know how to hurt people.

- I can't be a part of your dream. - We're not living in a dream!

Good to see you. Let's go in and see Jacob.

Jacob's loss of speech and his epileptic seizures worry us -

- so we've been focusing on this little dark area.

We found yet another arteriovenous malformation that causes seizures.

We want to remove this one too.

We've been in web conference with foreign experts about this AVM.

Unfortunately, Jacob's AVM displays a "steal symptom".

It steals blood from adjacent areas. In Jacob's case, his speech area.

- Will he ever be... normal? - He can get better. It's a small AVM.

- But it's too deep-lying to get at. - You can't operate.

We can't operate, if it puts Jacob at risk.

You know what to do, but you can't do it.

No. We're waiting for new research results.

- You're researching, we're waiting. - Martin.

I had planned to leave you a message.

Hjulman, with an H.

May I offer you a ride?

They say you're the best headhunter in the country. Is that true?

Do you trust your sources, mr. Hjulman? Who wants to know?

- Ever heard of the name Sieger? - Niels Frederik Sieger?

The biggest business tycoon in Scandinavia? I think so.

Mr. Sieger wants to meet you in person at 1 p.m. In 15 minutes.

Which will prevail? Pride or curiosity?

You are to say Mr . Sieger. You are not to interrupt him.

You speak when spoken to and accept anything offered.

Still, try to avoid his cigars. They're terrible.

But they were Senior's favourites.

It's not worth the effort to lie, and improper to contradict Mr. Sieger.

If you cajole him or puff yourself up, it will be a brief meeting.

Mr. Sieger is 85, but don't let that fool you.

He has but grown wiser and more experienced with age.

This is a statement that you were never here.

You've never met Niels Frederik Sieger -

- and nothing which is said was ever said. A vow of secrecy.

A mere formality.

Mr. Sieger is having oatmeal soup and steamed turbot today -

- but do feel free to indulge in the delicacies of The Golden Herring.

Remember Armstrong in 2001?

Everyone was out to punish him for his arrogance.

But he feigns illness, weakness, a tummy ache.

He gives his competitors false hopes, and then he strikes in the mountains.

Beautiful, eh?

Let's see. Navy Seal, reporter -

- and headhunter. Various places of work.

You're a wild one. You even toppled the Minister of Finance.

How did you put it? "He was ripe for the picking."

I'm not a reporter anymore, Mr. Sieger.

Back then you hunted down the Establishment for the people.

Now you hunt down executives for the Capital.

You did me a favour, by the way. The Minister was a fool.

Now, how much do you know -

- about the management culture in the old company?

What everybody else knows. You are the absolute ruler of the company -

which breeds its own executives -

- and your son Daniel is going to succeed you as CEO.

My son Daniel is a fine manager, but I have my doubts about his potential.

I don't need a clone. I need an original -

- who can lead the company into the future.

Someone who knows the new morality.

You're going to skip the line of succession?

Panic will spread on the management floor -

and permeate your organization.

It is unheard of, I agree, but not impossible.

I want you to find my successor, someone from the outside.

I don't want my executives to know what hit them before it's too late.

Can I rely on your discretion?

We both know loneliness, you and I. I used to be a wild one myself.

But this company...

has the makings of a giant.

- A cigar? I know you smoke. - I was advised against your cigars.

I see. Would you excuse me for a moment?

Mr. Sieger was satisfied. You'll report to him here every Thursday.

You are to present him with a prioritized list of three names.

Your first candidate must be ready for a meeting.

And if I refuse?

You won't.

The Sieger Group employs over 100,000 people.

We're larger than Microsoft.

The Sieger Family Trust Fund is a huge contributor to research.

There is political focus, and rightly so, -

- on who is going to head this empire.

With all due respect to your life's work so far -

- this is your chance to achieve something of lasting value.

All you have to do is sign this.

- And this is? - An extended vow of secrecy.

An estranged father and son. The new CEO will be on his own.

This...

- It's impossible, Mr. Hjulman. - That's why we contacted you.

I hear your refusal -

- but Mr. Sieger never takes no for an answer after the first meeting.

You'll just have to think about it.

Martin speaking.

Earlier tonight the Swiss Gerner Clinic offered us a beta operation.

It's a new method to us. Radiation therapy using a gamma knife -

- which Dr. Leipmann has refined to unheard-of precision.

It's fantastic, seeing as a cerebral haemorrhage has been imminent.

Jacob is in a private hospital in Copenhagen.

We'll just have to wait and see.

- How are you doing? - Me? Well, I'm...

- The line is breaking up. - Martin...

I'll call you later. I can't hear a word you're saying.

DANIEL SIEGER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

MS ALMA CHRISTENING 1988

GUNNERSØE BOARDING SCHOOL

DANIEL VISITS HIS MOTHER IN SWITZERLAND

If anyone can get that info, Pluto can. But please pardon his French.

Use a faster computer, why don't you?

This heap of scrap is so old it evades the firewall.

Nina, you do know you've got a deadline in 20 minutes?

- Yes. - Good.

Editor Bramming hasn't forgiven you that stunt with the Minister.

Here he is.

"Hi, Goofy. Lucky, I'm not jerking off."

"Gerner Institute is owned by Health Care Europe -

- which in turn is owned by Capital Invest International -

- whose largest shareholder is the Sieger Family Trust Fund."

- It's a pleasure to see you again. - Mr. Sieger fixed my son's operation.

- Didn't he? - I'm not at liberty to say.

If we're to work together, you need to mobilize a minimum of trust in me.

Mr. Sieger thought you might need a helping hand on the home front -

as he put it.

- Am I in his debt now? - If you are, I'm sure you know.

I'll find the three candidates for Mr. Sieger.

I'll make sure my first priority is ready for a meeting.

- Am I out of my debt then? - Thursday it is.

Here's a cell phone. Your car is parked on the lower story.

Money isn't all bad, Martin Vinge. You can do great things with money.

You can even do good without expecting anything in return.

I won't bill you.

- Okay, what do you want to discuss? - Your Danish is good.

I went to Gunnersøe Boarding School. The short version, please.

- This is to remain between us. - I'm not here, you're not here.

- Isn't that what you always say? - You've done your homework.

- I've just taken on a new position. - Then what are you doing here?

Why hasn't the market reacted? I don't think you've signed the contract yet.

I'm looking for N.F. Sieger's successor.

What about Daniel, his crown prince?

We went to boarding school together. He's... unusual.

He's out of the loop.

I see. But is he completely out?

Officially my contract came through, but there are still issues. Big issues.

- Did Sieger give you this job? - I refer directly to Mr. Sieger.

I'm only going to give you this offer once.

I trust you, but I want to see Sieger face to face.

I'll set up a meeting.

You have to move fast. I can't keep the contract open much longer.

Don't leave for another ten minutes.