Companies moving towards proactive use of interim managers

Businesses are becoming more strategic in their use of interim managers, according to a research undertaken by one of the UKís leading IM suppliers Global Executives.

Interim management has traditionally been seen as a reactive measure ? to help companies tackle downsizing, redundancy, takeovers and financial downturns.

But more and more companies are realising the benefits of the proactive use of an interim manager according to the research.

Global Executives managing director Nigel Corby explained: When the concept of interim management first hit the UK market place in the early 1980s IMs were seen purely as Superman characters who would swoop in,
sort out the problems, turn the company round and swoop away again and onto the next corporate rescue.

While this is still very much a vital role of IMs, we are seeing a growing number of organisations contacting us who want to grow their business strategically. They see that by the appointment of an expert in his or her field for a number of months they can enjoy solid benefits.

It may be to handle a factory move, implement a new IT system, arrange a recruitment programme or an expansion.

Itís not a case of putting a sticking plaster on a wound but of taking extra vitamins to give the company additional oomph to get it off the starting blocks and into orbit.

Last year 25% of Globalís appointments were made to companies wanting to use IMs strategically. This year that figure has risen to 35%.