April 16, 2025

11 Things to Expect from an Interim Leader During Their First 30 Days on the Job

11 Things to Expect from an Interim Leader During Their First 30 Days on the Job

So you’ve decided to bring in an interim executive. Perhaps you need to temporarily fill a leadership role while you conduct a thorough search for a new permanent hire. Or maybe you need an experienced leader to spearhead a new initiative or helm the launch of a new product. Or maybe your company is in crisis and you need a turnaround expert to right the ship.

Whatever the reason you have chosen to bring on an interim executive, you are about to work with someone who works differently. That’s because interims are wired for action.

Here are 11 things to expect from an interim executive during their first 30 days on the job.

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August 30, 2024

What is an Interim Manager? An Executive Who Delivers Change (Fast)

What is an Interim Manager? An Executive Who Delivers Change (Fast)

What is an interim manager? The easy answer is that an interim manager is an experienced executive who takes short-term assignments. But a highly-skilled, rock-star interim executive is so much more than that.

“It’s badly understood…and a lot of companies don’t understand when to fully use us,” said one experienced interim executive. “We are there to bring change, to shake things up, and to deliver projects that internally couldn’t be done before.”

And then they do something a traditional full-time executive likely wouldn’t even consider: They leave.

That’s because a true interim executive is wired for change. For challenge. For making a difference.

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August 22, 2024

How the Right ERP Strategy Can Improve Your Business

How the Right ERP Strategy Can Improve Your Business

It’s a common scenario: A company invests big bucks in a massive ERP implementation only to watch the effort stall. Or worse, fail altogether.

Maybe the problem is the lack of planning or ERP software curation. Maybe it’s not thinking ahead for future needs. Or maybe it’s not having an experienced ERP implementation executive who can make that integration sing.

For all that goes into ERP implementation — ERP, or Enterprise Resource Planning, is, after all, managing, streamlining, and tying together all essential business processes — strategizing every step should be a non-negotiable.

“ERP systems usually get replaced every seven to 10 years. I’ve been with some companies where they hadn’t replaced them for 25 years,” says Bruce Howard, an InterimExecs RED Team member and Interim CIO who has spent much of his career implementing ERP solutions.

“There’s a planning phase to bring all of the pieces together and make sure you’ve got a clear approach and clear people assigned. And then you need a methodology for the way you select systems and implement,” he says.

To better understand the components of a successful ERP implementation process and a clear look at how an ERP strategy can support business operations and better decision-making, we asked Howard and interim executives Tony DeLima and Alonso Vargas to walk us through the essential elements.

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June 20, 2024

Executive Search Services: Why Interim Executives Are Right for Fast-Growing Companies

Executive Search Services: Why Interim Executives Are Right for Fast-Growing Companies

Interim executives — experienced C-suite leaders who take on short-term roles — traditionally are found in turnaround situations, coming in to save companies on the brink. Or they are brought in to keep a company moving forward while a new permanent hire is identified and onboarded.

But there’s another leadership role that is tailor-made for an interim leader: Using their skills, experience and executive talent to guide fast-growing companies.

An experienced interim executive is the right leader for companies facing big points of change or growth. Interim and fractional executives often step in to address growing pains many organizations feel when they lack the systems and processes to scale. On the other hand, interim executives jump in as a key part of the diligence or post-acquisition integration strategy for companies and private equity firms leveraging an M&A strategy to expand.

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April 2, 2024

4 Common Reasons Why Some Businesses Fail While Others Fly High

4 Common Reasons Why Some Businesses Fail While Others Fly High

According to stats from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, only about one-quarter of business startups will still be operating after 15 years. But why do some businesses fail but others continue to grow and thrive?

Over the last 15+ years, our interim executives have been instrumental in leading business success at companies across countries and industries. Their experience shows that there are some common reasons why businesses fail:

Poor Management

It’s not what business owners want to hear, but poor management is one of the most common reasons for business failure. Cleve Adams, who built a SaaS cyber security software company from pre-revenue to a $1B IPO in three years, notes that the best business ideas won’t work unless you have a quality team laying the groundwork.

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March 25, 2024

FAQs: Is an Interim or Fractional CEO a Good Fit for My Company?

FAQs: Is an Interim or Fractional CEO a Good Fit for My Company?

When we started matching companies in need with skilled interim executives 15 years ago, the main question people asked was: Why would an executive choose this career path? There’s absolutely no job stability. 

Fast forward 15 years. Now we’re in a gig economy. The idea that you can get specialized expertise for what you need right now is expected and common.

Despite that, questions remain. In this interactive webinar, InterimExecs CEO Robert Jordan and President Olivia Wagner go through the most frequently asked questions they hear from company owners, directors, investors, and managers.

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March 16, 2024

The Case for Hiring Part-Time or Fractional Executives

The Case for Hiring Part-Time or Fractional Executives

As businesses grow and scale, they often face the challenge of keeping up with operational demands while maintaining strategic leadership. This is where fractional executives come in. Offering high-level expertise on a part-time or temporary basis, fractional executives provide companies with the experienced leadership they need to drive growth, streamline operations, and manage change—without the commitment or expense of full-time hires. Part-time or fractional executives provide C-suite leadership, mentorship, and the operational upgrades needed to help a company break through the ceiling to growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • Fractional executives provide rock star expertise for a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire. 
  • There are no overhead costs such as health insurance and severance. 
  • The flexible engagement can be scaled up or down as needed.
  • Part-time executives are the answer for companies in growth or transition mode.
  • InterimExecs fractional executives can fill leadership gaps in as little as 48 hours. 

In this webinar, InterimExecs CEO Robert Jordan takes a deep dive into the question of when choosing a part-time or fractional executive is the best choice for a company.

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February 27, 2024

The 6 Biggest Business Mistakes and How to Fix Them

The 6 Biggest Business Mistakes and How to Fix Them

Interim executives, by definition, come into difficult situations, assess them quickly, and create a plan for success. That means they have a front-row seat to the most common business mistakes companies make in the areas of leadership, operations, human capital, strategy, business finances, and change initiatives.

Focusing on these fundamental business needs is a good starting point for any struggling business.

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December 8, 2023
Robert Jordan

3 Things Companies Can Learn from How Private Equity Firms Work to Maximize Value

Robert Jordan | CEO, Association of Interim Executives
3 Things Companies Can Learn from How Private Equity Firms Work to Maximize Value

Private equity firms have a simple recipe for making money: They identify companies they believe are undervalued, improve those companies, then sell them for far more than they paid to buy them in the first place.

Knowing how private equity firms work can serve as a roadmap for any company looking to improve operations and maximize value.

Start with these 3 things PE firms do following an acquisition in the lower middle market ($2-$15 million in EBITDA) to improve your own bottom line, whether you plan to continue operating your business or want to ready the company for a future PE investment.

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November 28, 2023

When is a Fractional Hire the Right Choice for a Company?

When is a Fractional Hire the Right Choice for a Company?

In years of pairing executives with companies in need, we have learned that there are times when full-time is too much time. That’s when companies benefit from choosing a fractional executive. It’s a way to get top-notch skills for a fraction of the time at a fraction of the cost of a full-time hire.

On a webinar, InterimExecs CEO Robert Jordan laid out the 5 situations when hiring executives on a fractional basis makes the most sense for companies:

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