Interim Managers can be particularly useful during periods of transition for a business, for example a merger or acquisition, the implementation of new technology or software, strategy development or loss of senior management.

They can draw on their wealth of expertise and take responsibility for the project or changing strategy and deliver value-added solutions for their clients very quickly.   In short, they can “hit the ground running”.

They are generally engaged for a specific project or initiative, providing on-demand and as-needed support for complex business challenges or strategy.

They can provide a specific scope of work to align with project needs rather than handling the day-to-day operational workloads.

They can also step in quickly to cover for a senior executive during unforeseen circumstances such as sick leave or short to longer term absence from the business.

They can fill a gap created by loss of senior management staff that may otherwise result in a crisis period or times of instability which can be damaging to business.

The Interim Manager allows the organisation the time it may need to restructure, rethink, realign and take the necessary steps to ensure that the permanent hire is the right one.  Senior hires are often complex and may involve long notice periods.  An Interim Manager can help negate this and allow the recruitment process to follow an unhindered path to deliver the right results.

This can involve a lot of wider investigation into the deeper needs of the business which can be time consuming and complex.

Benefits of Hiring an Interim Manager 

Cost

There is some confusion over how an interim manager might be better than hiring a consultancy firm to provide interim analysis and support. Large consultancy firms will often be employed to place a management consultant on secondment with the business; however, this can come with its own opportunities as well as challenges, including costs, the ability to scale up or down as the project evolves and the ability to transfer knowledge at the conclusion of an engagement.

Choosing instead to employ an interim manager provides greater cost-effectiveness and provides a more in-depth level of service. Interim managers are considered full-time members of staff for the duration of their contracted project and become immersed in the business’s culture, providing well-rounded support to all stakeholders. Management consultants will always remain fringe employees, ultimately only accountable to their larger consultancy business.

New perspectives

An interim manager remains impartial within the business which allows them to bring new and informed perspectives to any given challenge.

Having dealt with a wide range of crisis scenarios or overseen a variety of transition periods for different businesses, they are able to bring positivity and enthusiasm in high-pressure situations.

This can serve to reinvigorate and reassure a workforce, implementing a positive attitude and encouraging new ideas and problem-solving.

Expertise

Interim Managers are highly qualified in their function and industry sectors and they are engaged for their expertise, intelligence, creative problem solving ability and ability to get things done.

The business can quickly benefit from invaluable amounts of expertise and experience to aid them on projects that could not be completed by their own internal workforce.

Responsive and quick turnaround

Interim managers are able to adapt to both short and longer term interim projects and can produce results quickly. They are used to working to deadlines within defined cost parameters and fully understand the value that they are expected to deliver to the business.  Their next assignment will depend on their success and the clients’ satisfaction with their delivery and completion of the project.

DSA Executive has a wide range of Interim Executives from all disciplines with particular in-depth knowledge of the Supply Chain, Logistics and Transport sectors.

We can provide Interim support in Finance, Operations, IT, HR and Sales from Senior Management to Board and CEO level.

We also have several specialists in HM Customs, EU Law and International Trade.

For more information or to discuss your Interim requirement, call us on 01675 464060 or email: info@dsaexecutive.com