Thursday 24 February 2011

Companies turn to interim managers in an upturn

As business emerges from the recession demand for interim executives is continuing to grow according to Macallam Interim.

A recent report by the Interim Management Association (IMA) shows that more businesses are seeking interim managers as a "valuable resource" for companies looking to hire skilled employees to aid their recovery during the much-vaunted upturn.

During the past 12 months many companies have been panicked into letting key staff go as they move to clamp down on costs. Now they are seeking new talent to lead them into growth.

The skills required to manage a business in a down turn are very different from those required in an upturn. Managing a business out of recession and setting in place the structure to ensure future continued growth requires a certain set of skills.
According to the IMA, which represents the UK’s interim management providers, turnaround specialists have been in particular demand since the financial crisis, with businesses calling on such experts to help salvage key projects left in disarray by the downturn.

Good interim managers normally have a few grey hairs and battle scars. They are very experienced and have been through the economic cycle a few times and, as a result, they are able to hit the ground running when they join an organisation and will often deliver tangible results within a very short time.

The latest findings from an Ipsos MORI survey conducted for IMA shows that the use of interim managers increased by nine per cent over the first two quarters of 2010. Covering the period between April to June this year, it also reveals that the proportion of private sector interim assignments has increased to more than half.
By Steven Wynne

Wednesday 23 February 2011

Launch of Macallam Interim

Macallam Interim is a new interim management recruitment consultancy which has been launched by Steven Wynne alongside sister company - the long-established Harrogate executive recruitment and career consultancy Macallam.

Macallam Interim will specialise in the identifying interim executives for clients with an immediate problem who require a short-term solution with long-lasting results.

Steven, who has many years experience of successfully placing interim executives in a wide range of sectors and disciplines, said: “In the current challenging economic climate client companies across the UK are increasingly seek an interim solution to some of the problems they are facing.

"Interim managers usually have many years experience in a particular sector or discipline and can quickly add value to the companies they work for whether that be on a six month project or something longer term.”
With a six-strong team of consultants Macallam Interim also maintains an in-house research function so when faced with a particularly challenging assignment it can explore beyond its database to ensure it can quickly deliver the very best solution.

Steven, whose career began in the pharmaceutical in operations and logistics, has been involved in executive search and selection since 1998 and has focused on interim executive recruitment since 2004 and helped clients with a short-term need for a business critical problem.

Macallam Managing Director Duncan Carter said: “Macallam Interim brings a fresh dimension to our company as Steven and his team give us access to a new source of talented executives at a time when many clients are looking for an interim solution to specific problems with their organisation.”

By Steven Wynne