February 16, 2026

The Not-So-Secret Weapon Middle-Market CEOs Use to Accelerate Growth

The Not-So-Secret Weapon Middle-Market CEOs Use to Accelerate Growth

Every CEO eventually faces the same leadership dilemma: the opportunity ahead is bigger than the team you have today.

Markets open and close faster than ever.

Revenue targets climb.

Competitive threats appear without warning.

Boards and investors demand performance.

In these moments, the difference between hitting growth milestones and watching them slip away comes down to having the right leadership in place. Successful CEOs know how to ensure they always have the leadership capacity they need when they need it: they bring in top-tier interim executives.

Interim leadership is much more than a stopgap: it’s a strategic force multiplier. Interim executives with a strong track record of accelerating growth know how to orchestrate change fast, decisively, and with minimal disruption.

Read More

February 10, 2026
Robert Jordan

What 2025 Meant for Interim Leaders — and Why 2026 Is the Inflection Point

Robert Jordan | CEO, InterimExecs
What 2025 Meant for Interim Leaders — and Why 2026 Is the Inflection Point

2025 was significant for our tribe of leaders serving as expert interim and fractional executives. What happened? Here are the highlights, followed by what we see coming:

1. Interim and Fractional Leadership Went Mainstream

Back in 2007 we launched the predecessor to InterimExecs. NO ONE had a clue what we were talking about. Interim? What’s that? Are they in between jobs? Retired? Consultants?

No more. Business finally gets executives-on-demand. Specialized expertise for what you need right now? That’s a huge plus – it resonates.  And a minus – you’re no longer alone in the field. There’s a lot more noise.

Read More

February 6, 2026

Chemistry Matters: The Right Questions to Ask When Interviewing an Interim Executive

Chemistry Matters: The Right Questions to Ask When Interviewing an Interim Executive

At InterimExecs, we’ve spent years developing a proven methodology for matching companies with experienced interim executives. While skills, experience, and track record matter, one factor consistently rises to the top of the list: chemistry.

Whether the interim executive will be working with a private equity fund, a company owner, a board, or an existing management team, alignment and trust are essential. Once we recommend an executive—or team—tailored to a company’s needs, the next question almost always follows:

“What should we be asking in the interview to know if this is truly the right fit?”

Below are several targeted interview questions designed to help you assess both capability and chemistry—so you can move forward with confidence.

Read More

December 3, 2025

7 Essential Turnaround Tips for Middle-Market Companies

7 Essential Turnaround Tips for Middle-Market Companies

When a mid-market company (say $20M–$500M in revenue) hits a wall — declining revenue, disappearing cash, operational stagnation, or a sudden crisis — the path back to stability can feel overwhelming. But seasoned interim CEOs and turnaround executives have seen these situations repeatedly, across industries and economic cycles.

Their collective experience points to seven essential strategies that consistently help companies regain footing, rebuild momentum, and return to profitable growth.

Below, three veteran turnaround leaders, interim CEOs Dick Lindenmuth, Paul Fioravanti, and Philip Schiavoni, share real-world insights from years of hands-on business turnaround work.

From Lindenmuth’s strategic empathy to Fioravanti’s cultural clarity and structured leadership, to Schiavoni’s cash-first survival approach, we compiled these seven turnaround tips. Together, they create a blueprint for middle-market companies that need to stabilize quickly and rebuild toward long-term health.

Read More

October 15, 2025

The Downside of Management Consultants and Why Interim Executives Deliver Results

The Downside of Management Consultants and Why Interim Executives Deliver Results

Market volatility, supply chain disruptions, and rapid technological change have left many companies in need of effective leadership. Often, those companies turn to consultants for instant help. But they continue to struggle. Why? Because consultants strategize and deliver impressive decks. But they don’t stick around to turn those ideas into results.

What those companies really need is an effective leader who can strategize, AND deliver results. And they need it now.

The answer is a rock star interim executive who can be on-site, taking charge and making progress in as little as 48 hours.

Read More

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?

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More

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.

Read More