In today’s dynamic business environment, certainty is rare—but the need for results never goes away. One thing has become increasingly clear: having the right leadership and specialist expertise at the right time can make all the difference. Jan Vandenbussche, Regional Director at Robert Half, shares his insights on how interim managers create real impact and why getting the right match between assignment and expertise is key to unlocking value.
“At our firm, we often hear a simple but important question: How does interim management create measurable value in today’s business climate? Drawing on insights from nearly 500 interim management projects delivered in the last 12 to 18 months, we have identified the key situations in which organizations benefit most, not only from leadership as a service, but also from subject matter expertise that accelerates execution and reduces risk.”
What companies consistently value the most
What sets us apart as a company is our ability to match each assignment with exactly the right person—someone who brings not just experience, but also a deep understanding of the challenge at hand. We work closely with clients to define clear outcomes, and then we deliver interim managers who are ready to hit the ground running.
Here’s what our clients consistently tell us they value most:
Targeted, short-term expertise with clear deliverables
Fractional or part-time leadership to guide transformation projects
Hands-on subject matter experts for execution-critical roles
Where Interim Management has the biggest impact
1. Restructuring and organizational realignment
Restructuring is a pivotal moment, one that demands clarity, speed and experience.
Interim leaders and hands-on experts can ensure business continuity while driving structural change. This allows internal teams to stay focused on core operations, while interim managers manage stabilization, redesign and execution; without increasing headcount or long-term commitments.
2. Ownership transitions, M&A and strategic change
Post-transaction phases are pressure points and that's where interim support truly shines. Subject matter specialists such as PMOs, transformation consultants, finance controllers and legal experts regularly support private equity firms, family offices and corporate M&A teams in the critical first 100 days. They ensure operational traction, compliance and integration across functions, while internal teams focus on strategy and stakeholder alignment.
Divestments, carve-outs and business unit closures require tight coordination and experienced project execution. Hands-on experts bring structure, pace and control to complex transitions, ensuring they stay on track and deliver the intended value.
3. Market exits and downsizing
Withdrawing from markets or downsizing operations involves more than cost-cutting, it demands precision in execution, communication and compliance.
Interim managers ensure that exits are handled with diligence, transparency and minimal disruption to business continuity or brand reputation.
4. Rapid growth and scaling challenges
Growth brings opportunities – but also growing pains and gaps: in systems, governance, finance and operations.
Interim managers help scale-ups and fast-growing SMEs bridge those gaps by deploying both interim leadership (e.g., scale-up CFOs, COOs) and subject matter experts in areas like FP&A, ERP implementations, supply chain optimization and compliance. They embed quickly and build the right foundations, enabling companies to scale with confidence and control.
5. Digital transformation and business innovation
A successful transformation depends not only on the right systems, but also on the right people to lead and implement change.
Interim project managers such as solution architects, business analysts, data experts, change leads and finance/IT specialists drive execution and measurable outcomes. Whether a company is deploying new technologies, upgrading processes, or redesigning operating models, interim managers make it happen.
Real Impact. Proven Results.
“We are proud to work alongside some of the most ambitious companies and investors across industries, providing the right blend of interim leadership and expert execution to deliver results in high-stakes moments.”
