The Partner in Talent Capital Management

Fontes is a leading talent consulting agency, offering a wide range of services that help companies and individuals reach their full potential. With more than 30 years of experience and a commitment to quality, we ensure that we find, develop, and retain the best talent for you. Together, we build a strong and inspiring future for organizations.

Our vision

We create clarity and a positive talent experience by identifying and developing the shared ground between people and organizations.
We stand for a leadership culture that values talent.
We help you discover and apply your natural strengths.
We strive for mastery to bring positive change and new opportunities to the world of work.

35+

Years of experience in the field
100+

Recruitment projects annually
95%

Client satisfaction rate
1000+

Training participants annually

2025

2024

2022

2005

1990

2025

Your Partner in Important Decisions

Some decisions carry more weight than others. They shape teams, culture, and the future.
They determine whom we trust to lead, whose potential we recognize, and how we create environments where people truly thrive.

We believe every meaningful change begins with people—and that the right decisions are not made in haste, but through a balance of insight and intuition. At Fontes, we ask questions. We listen. We reflect and help you see more clearly. We stand beside you when the question is what kind of organization you are truly building and what impact you want to create with your people.

For 35 years, we have been a partner to those who dare to ask better questions and make informed decisions—so that every choice brings them closer to what truly matters. Strong organizations are not built on random decisions, but on decisions made wisely. And in that, we are always by your side.

Fontes. Your partner in important decisions.

2024

Talent leads!

Fontes’ uniqueness lies in the ability to bring multiple elements together into a meaningful and relevant whole. We believe that the contribution and value of every individual can be significantly enhanced. We help talent define their element and find environments where they can create and perform at their best.

Our goal is to support leaders and talent and act as their development partner. We rely on both proven classical methods and flexible, innovative solutions. Our people operate in their element—they are fast and critical thinkers, adaptable and resourceful, eager to make an impact, take action, and assume responsibility.

Fontes’ areas of expertise are broad: we support organizations in talent acquisition, talent development and retention, building effective leadership cultures, and optimizing organizational effectiveness and workflows.

Fontes’ subsidiary, Figure Baltic Advisory, is a leading provider of salary surveys and compensation system consulting in the Baltics, serving Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania as the largest provider in this field.

2022

A New Whole Is Formed

Fontes expanded its ownership circle with the addition of Kadri Sooberg-Aettik and Ilmar Põhjala.

Kadri shares how her journey with Fontes began:
“A fortunate coincidence led me to Fontes years ago. The recruitment process was demanding, as it always is with Fontes. Legend has it that I was not the strongest candidate, but my eyes shone brighter than the others’. An excerpt from my recruitment file from 2004 described me as ‘a girl with a clean slate.’”

Ilmar shares:
“Looking back, my joining Fontes in 2008 was no coincidence—it was meant to happen. A close friend told me this company was exactly right for me and encouraged me to send my CV. I did, and it remains the only CV I have ever written.”

2005

MBO - management buyout

In November 2005, ownership of AS Fontes PMP was transferred to six employees: Karolina Jansen, Kaire Võitra, Piret Jamnes, Irja Rae, Eva Lelumees, and Külli Lilleorg. A key new focus became “talent.” Fontes supports talent careers, organizational effectiveness, and leadership culture development.

Fontes’ mission: to help leaders and organizations achieve excellent results through talent management—by identifying, developing, and retaining key talent.

1990

Founded on June 1, 1990, in Tartu

Fontes was founded by respected psychologists from the University of Tartu: Tõnis Arro, Jüri Allik, Heiti Pakk, and Talis Bachmann.

The Fontes story began in Tartu, with early focus areas including publishing, methodology development, executive search, salary market analysis, assessment, training, and individual counseling.

The name “Fontes” means “source” in Ancient Greek, and PMP stands for Personnel Management Psychology. In its early years, Fontes focused on helping organizations adapt to a new business environment while aligning individual ambitions with organizational goals.

Our values

Our values are at the core of everything we do at Fontes.

Mastery is our deepest aspiration. Our mission and calling at Fontes is to develop ourselves, develop others, and develop the environment. In the era of talent capital, mastery means helping every talent find and operate within their element—where they can perform at their highest potential.

Expertise

We create clarity and provide knowledge-based solutions. We follow high ethical standards and responsible business practices.

Partnership

We build empowering development partnerships with all stakeholders: clients, talents, and Fontes colleagues. We help unlock and realize the potential of both individuals and organizations.

Openness

We recognize change and opportunity. We are inspired by ambitious and self-aware partners who invest in their own growth and organizational development.

What Matters to Us

We value both mental well-being and environmental responsibility—in our own organization and in our relationships with clients and partners. Our daily work is guided by values that support sustainable development and position us as a positive example in the Estonian market. Our team actively follows Fontes’ Green Office principles, participates in environmental training, and supports sustainable initiatives.