July 9, 2025

Leading Through the Fire: When Crisis Hits Your Bottom Line and Sears Your Soul

Leading Through the Fire: When Crisis Hits Your Bottom Line and Sears Your Soul

Imagine your business, a $200 million operation, vanishing overnight. Not a slow decline. Not a market shift. A sudden, devastating wipeout. That’s the reality Paul Hardy faced. He’s a seasoned executive who found himself at the epicenter of an avian flu outbreak in 2022.

Ultimately, the company, one of the biggest producers in the country, destroyed more than 5 million birds.

In eight days.

This isn’t just a story about managing in a crisis; it’s a masterclass in leadership, resilience, and the human cost of extraordinary decisions.

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July 8, 2025

What is a Fractional Executive? How CEOs, CFOs, and COOs Go Part-Time for Big Impact

What is a Fractional Executive? How CEOs, CFOs, and COOs Go Part-Time for Big Impact

Fractional executives — including fractional CEOs, CFOs, COOs, and CIOs — are the hottest thing in the C-suite. What started as a niche workaround has gone mainstream, with companies from fast-scaling startups to Fortune 500s tapping part-time leaders for big-impact roles.

These aren’t consultants or advisors — they’re deeply embedded executives, delivering high-level strategy, leadership, and results without the cost or commitment of a full-time hire.

But what exactly is a fractional executive? How is this different from an interim or outsourced solution? And when does it make sense to go fractional in the first place?

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June 27, 2025

What is the Role of an Interim CIO? 5 Common Use Cases

What is the Role of an Interim CIO? 5 Common Use Cases

In today’s fast-moving, tech-driven business environment, the role of the CIO is more critical — and more complex — than ever. Whether your organization is navigating digital transformation, merger integration, or large-scale system upgrades, an Interim Chief Information Officer (CIO) can deliver immediate, strategic value without adding long-term overhead.

Unlike consultants or rising IT managers, a seasoned interim CIO brings deep operational and leadership experience. These executives are not only capable of taking on the same responsibilities as a permanent CIO, but they also offer a focused lens on change, transformation, and rapid results.

Here are 5 use cases where an interim CIO can be a powerful asset:

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June 10, 2025

Interim COO Success Story: How He Unlocked Millions in Operational Improvements at a National Food Manufacturer

Interim COO Success Story: How He Unlocked Millions in Operational Improvements at a National Food Manufacturer

When a national deli meat manufacturer faced declining yields, equipment inconsistencies, and looming leadership turnover, they called in a seasoned interim COO from InterimExecs’ RED Team to get operations back on track.

Michael Bartikoski, a veteran operations executive with deep roots in food manufacturing, stepped into the role with three goals: stabilize operations, improve yields, and build the next generation of leadership.

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June 10, 2025

When Should You Hire a CFO?

When Should You Hire a CFO?

Running a growing company means wearing a lot of hats — but at some point, financial decisions become too complex to manage without expert guidance. Whether you’re scaling fast, navigating uncertainty, or preparing for a major event like fundraising or exit, there comes a time when you need more than a bookkeeper or controller. You need a CFO.

What does a CFO do for your business? InterimExecs RED Team’s Vic Datta, who has more than 25 years of deep experience as an interim CFO, says companies increasingly expect CFOs to see around corners.

“What you get is this need for sort of an athlete that looks at operations, that looks at finance, that looks at IT, and that also looks very numerate…sort of connect all those dots, and forecast performance as well as forecast basic sales and margins for the firm,” he says. 

But should that be a full-time hire? An interim solution? Or would a fractional (part-time) CFO be enough?

Here’s how to know when it’s time, and what type of CFO might be right for your business.

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May 13, 2025

Guide to Hiring a Fractional CFO: What to Know Before You Make the Call

Guide to Hiring a Fractional CFO: What to Know Before You Make the Call

Hiring a fractional CFO could be one of the most impactful decisions you make this year. Whether your company is preparing for growth, managing a complex financial challenge, or gearing up for fundraising, a seasoned financial leader can bring clarity and direction — without the overhead of a full-time hire.

In this guide, we break down when to bring in a fractional CFO, what to expect, how to choose the right one, and how InterimExecs can match you with a RED Team leader who’s ready to make an immediate impact.

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May 8, 2025

Embracing VUCA in the Workplace: How Your Company Can Thrive in a World of Constant Flux

Embracing VUCA in the Workplace: How Your Company Can Thrive in a World of Constant Flux

The landscape of the business world has always been in motion. Today, that reality is amplified. We’re operating in an era defined by unprecedented speed and interconnectedness, where disruptions can emerge from anywhere and reshape entire sectors overnight.

This hyper-dynamic environment makes traditional planning feel increasingly precarious. As Mike Tyson famously said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.” Today, those punches can land swiftly and unexpectedly, making it difficult to predict what’s next.

The U.S. Army War College has an acronym for that: VUCA. It stands for:

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May 8, 2025

When the CEO Quits: How to Prepare and Respond

When the CEO Quits: How to Prepare and Respond

A record 2,221 CEOs announced plans to leave their posts in 2024, according to Challenger, Gray & Christmas. It’s the highest total the firm has tracked since it began keeping records in 2002. The trend continued in January 2025, with a record 222 CEOs leaving their posts.

Perhaps most troubling, Russell Reynolds says that just 28 percent of those CEO departures were planned. While that’s a 7 percent increase in year-over-year stats, it still means that the majority of companies scramble to fill a leadership void when a CEO leaves or unexpectedly resigns.

What are the most important steps a company should take when the CEO quits?

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May 7, 2025

Why Hire an Interim CFO? Public Companies Can’t Afford a Financial Leadership Gap

Why Hire an Interim CFO? Public Companies Can’t Afford a Financial Leadership Gap
When a public company CFO leaves unexpectedly, the pressure is on. Reporting deadlines, investor calls, and team continuity can’t wait. And it’s a growing problem. CFO turnover among S&P companies hit the highest level in six years in 2024. That’s why more boards are hiring interim CFOs — experienced financial leaders who can step in immediately, stabilize operations, and build confidence.
To explore how this works in real time, InterimExecs CEO Robert Jordan sat down with two seasoned finance veterans, Mitch Cohen and Lawrence Firestone. Both have extensive experience as public company CFOs.

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May 5, 2025

What Is a Fractional CIO — and When Should You Hire One?

What Is a Fractional CIO — and When Should You Hire One?

Not every company needs a full-time CIO (Chief Information Officer). But nearly every company needs smart, strategic technology leadership.

Enter the fractional CIO — a senior executive who brings years of tech and business experience to your company on a part-time or project basis. Whether you’re scaling fast, modernizing outdated IT infrastructure, preparing for a sale, or looking for IT to fuel your business growth, a fractional CIO gives you the leadership you need — without the full-time overhead.

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