December 29, 2025

Virtual CFO vs. Interim CFO: Why Leadership, Not the Label, Determines Outcomes

On paper, a virtual CFO looks like the fastest solution to a financial leadership gap. In practice, many executives discover too late that what they hired is a service, not a leader. When your company faces investor scrutiny, cash pressure, or a pivotal transition, the real decision executives face isn’t virtual versus in-house, it’s transactional support versus decisive leadership.

InterimExecs CEO Robert Jordan discussed the differences — and asked for insights on when an embedded CFO is the right move — in conversations with two successful interim Chief Financial Officers, Vic Datta and Mike Winer. Here’s what their years of experience have taught them.

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October 17, 2025

Interim Executives vs. Consultants: The Complete Comparison Guide

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, organizations face critical decisions about external expertise. If you’re frantically Googling “interim executive vs consultant,” “difference between consultant and interim manager,” or even “consultant alternative,” you’re not alone. Leaders of organizations in need of expertise grapple with whether they simply require the strategic advice a consultant brings or if they need more and should hire an interim executive to drive real change.

This complete comparison guide serves as your big-picture resource, exploring definitions, key differences, when to use each, and practical tips to choose the right fit for your needs.

At InterimExecs, we specialize in placing top-tier interim executives who go beyond advice to deliver results. Whether you’re navigating a crisis, growth phase, or transition, understanding the “management consultant versus interim” distinction can save time, money, and frustration.

Let’s break it down.

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August 25, 2025

Interim CFOs for Nonprofits: Balancing Mission and Money

Running a nonprofit is a balancing act. On one side, there’s the passion that fuels your mission. On the other is the practical need to keep the books balanced and the bills paid. Both matter. When they’re aligned, your organization can thrive for years to come.

But balancing the mission with the money is never easy, especially in these unpredictable times. From changing funding streams to tight budgets, managing money in the nonprofit world comes with unique challenges. Those challenges are exacerbated in times of transition, growth, or crisis. That’s when it makes the most sense for nonprofits to hire an experienced interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

At InterimExecs, we specialize in connecting nonprofits with experienced interim leaders who know how to steady the ship and plan for the future.

Here’s why interim CFOs are becoming such a valuable resource and how they can help you find the money to meet the mission.

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July 31, 2025

Fractional vs. Interim vs. Full-Time CFO: What’s the Right Fit for Your Company?

When your company is in financial flux — whether due to growth, fundraising, or leadership gaps — it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the range of CFO options. Should you hire full-time? Go fractional? Bring in someone on an interim basis?

The titles may sound similar, but the structure of each is very different. Choosing the wrong one can stall momentum or cost you more than it saves. Here’s how to compare your options — fractional vs. interim vs. full-time — and decide which type of Chief Financial Officer is right for your company’s stage and situation.

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July 31, 2025

From Full-Time Tech Exec to Interim CIO: 5 Key Steps for Making the Leap

Veteran tech executives are increasingly drawn to the flexibility and fresh challenges of interim and fractional CIO roles. Whether you’re seeking more control over your time, eager to solve complex problems at scale, or simply ready for a new phase in your career, the interim path offers an exciting opportunity to make a high-impact difference across organizations.

But making the leap from a traditional, full-time C-suite role to interim work isn’t as simple as updating your resume. It requires a mindset shift, new strategies, and a clear value proposition. In a panel hosted by Robert Jordan, CEO of InterimExecs, seasoned interim leaders Dominic Luzi, Tom Murray, and John Matthesen shared their hard-won insights on what it takes to succeed as an interim or fractional CIO. Here’s what you need to know.

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July 9, 2025

The Ultimate Guide to Hiring an Interim CIO

Technology can make or break your business. Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes digital transformation, cleaning up an IT disaster, or preparing your company for sale, you need smart, decisive leadership. But what happens when your organization can’t wait six months to recruit the perfect permanent CIO?

That’s where an interim CIO comes in.

Unlike a full-time hire, interim CIOs bring speed, clarity, and deep experience — often stepping in after a CIO departs, during a crisis, or ahead of a major initiative.

This guide breaks down what every CEO, board member, or private equity investor should know about hiring an interim CIO—how to recognize when you need one, what they actually do, how they differ from CTOs and fractional executives, and what traits to look for.

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July 8, 2025

When Should You Bring in an Interim CIO?

In today’s digital-first economy, the demands on IT leadership are immediate, complex, and high-stakes. Whether it’s leading a large-scale ERP rollout, navigating a merger, or shoring up cybersecurity, your organization can’t afford delays in critical IT decision-making.

That’s where a top-tier interim CIO can make all the difference. But how do you know it’s the right time to bring one in?

Below are the most common scenarios when engaging a part-time or temporary CIO is not just helpful, but necessary.

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July 7, 2025

The Reverse Elevator Speech: The Essential 60-Second Secret Every Interim Leader Must Master

Hans Lagerweij | Growth Architect

“If you cannot explain it simply, you do not understand it well enough.”

— Albert Einstein

Most leaders know the power of an elevator pitch — that concise, compelling speech you’d give the CEO if you found yourself sharing an elevator. But what about when the tables turn? What if it’s your job, as a leader, to share your vision with your team?

Enter the reverse elevator speech — the 30-to-60-second message every leader needs to master.

The reverse elevator speech is particularly relevant for interim professionals as it enables rapid alignment and impactful engagement. Interims can swiftly grasp an organization’s core challenges and, by articulating the company’s problem and their proposed solution concisely, immediately gain executive buy-in and establish their value. This approach cuts through complexity, fosters quick consensus for change initiatives, and frames the interim’s role as a direct solution provider from day one.

What Is a Reverse Elevator Speech?

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June 30, 2025

When and How to Divest: A Guide to Strategic Spin-Offs and Carve-Outs

The strategic playbook of most companies focuses on growth through mergers and acquisitions. But that focus on M&A deals overlooks one of the most powerful tools in their arsenal: a clear, proactive divestiture strategy. The strategic shedding of underperforming assets can be a robust engine for value creation and an essential component of dynamic portfolio management for boards, C-suite executives, and private equity funds.

“While there’s plenty of evidence to suggest divestitures can create more value for shareholders than acquisitions, only about 30% of S&P 500 firms engage in them annually,” says Emilie Feldman, professor of management at Wharton and author of Divestitures: Creating Value Through Strategy, Structure, and Implementation.

This underutilization, she posits, is partly due to a psychological bias: “M&A is associated with positive terms like ‘growth’ and ‘opportunity,’ while divestitures are linked to negative terms like ‘failing’ and ‘lagging.'”

Overcoming this misperception is critical to unlocking substantial enterprise value.

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June 26, 2025

Fractional vs. Interim Executives: What Are the Differences and Which is the Right Path?

Interim and fractional leadership lies at the intersection of leadership gaps and the gig economy. They are the answer to the challenges organizations face in today’s dynamic business landscape. But what are the differences between the two approaches and which one is right for your organization? And which is the right future career path for you as a high-level executive?

Let’s break it down.

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