Interim Management for companies in Europe
When speed matters.
Experienced specialists and senior leaders for a defined period - for vacancies, transitions and situations that cannot wait for a search lasting several months.
During periods of rapid growth, strategic realignment or unexpected challenges, organisations need experienced professionals who are available at short notice, take responsibility and become effective immediately.
NAKAMA identifies experienced interim managers who combine operational strength with deep functional expertise to bridge critical business phases, deliver transformations and achieve ambitious growth targets.
Interim Management in four steps
01
Requirements and assignment profile
We clarify the task, objectives, scope of responsibility, required experience, availability and planned duration. Based on this, we develop a precise interim assignment profile.
02
Search and pre-selection
We identify specialists and senior leaders who are available at short notice, assess their experience and availability and conduct a structured pre-selection.
03
Presentation and decision
You receive selected profiles together with our considered assessment of experience, fit, availability and terms. You then meet the candidates and make your selection.
04
Start and ongoing support
We support the contractual arrangements and ensure a swift start. Throughout the assignment, we remain your point of contact and, if required, support the handover or transition to a permanent successor.
When is Interim Management the right solution?
Temporary management gaps
A key position becomes unexpectedly vacant, but its responsibilities must continue without interruption. An interim solution provides stability until a permanent successor is appointed.
Scale-up and growth
Rapid growth demands additional leadership experience, resilient structures and operational delivery. Interim managers create the conditions for scaling and expansion.
Post-merger integration
After a merger or acquisition, organisations, processes, systems and teams have to be brought together. Experienced interim managers take on the integration with a clear brief and timeframe.
Go-to-market
A new market, product or business model needs to be launched at short notice. An experienced interim manager provides the market expertise and operational leadership required to move from plan to execution.
Crisis and restructuring
In critical situations, decisions have to be taken quickly and implemented consistently. Interim managers safeguard the ability to act, create transparency and take responsibility for stabilisation.
Automation and process optimisation
Existing processes and systems need to become more efficient, more digital or more scalable. Interim managers do not just develop concepts; they implement improvements operationally and anchor them in the organisation.
Cross-functional Interim Management
Our Interim Management offering is cross-functional. The Finance & HR specialisation applies to Executive Search, while interim assignments are driven by the specific expertise required.
Depending on the situation, we identify experienced specialists and senior leaders in areas including:
- General management and business unit leadership
- Finance, accounting and controlling
- Human Resources and Talent Acquisition
- Sales and go-to-market
- Procurement and supply chain
- Operations and process management
- Product management and technology
- Transformation and programme management
The function alone is not what matters. What matters is the experience required to deliver the specific assignment.
Why NAKAMA?
- Speed with substance. When a position needs to be filled at short notice, speed matters. But speed must not come at the expense of judgement. We assess experience, availability and fit before presenting a candidate.
- Experienced judgement. More than 25 years in Recruiting and Executive Search, combined with over 20,000 interviews, enable us to assess professional capability and personal fit with confidence.
- Operational perspective. Our perspective is shaped by more than 15 years of hands-on experience in interim Talent Acquisition management projects. We understand situations in which internal resources are limited, existing structures no longer work or change must be implemented immediately.
- Cross-functional search. The assignment profile determines our search. Depending on the task, we identify suitable interim managers across different functions, markets and professional networks.
Interim Management or a permanent appointment?
Interim Management is the right choice when responsibility has to be taken on at short notice and the task is limited in time.
A permanent appointment is the right choice when the position is designed for the long term and there is enough time for a thorough Executive Search process.
The two are often combined: an interim manager secures operational continuity while the permanent successor is being sought in parallel.
Clear terms. Direct collaboration.
The contract for the interim assignment is entered into directly between your company and the selected interim manager or their company. You agree the duration, daily rate, scope of responsibility and other terms directly with them.
For search, assessment, placement and ongoing support, NAKAMA receives a fee equal to ten per cent of the agreed net daily rate for each invoiced assignment day.
This keeps the contractual relationship and day-to-day collaboration directly between the parties responsible for the assignment.
Frequently asked questions
How quickly can an interim position be filled?
That depends on the task, the function and the experience required. Suitable and available profiles can often be presented within one to two weeks. You will receive a realistic assessment after the first briefing.
Which functions does NAKAMA source interim managers for?
NAKAMA sources interim managers across functions. These include general management, Finance, HR, Sales, Procurement, Operations, product management, AI strategy, technology and transformation.
How long does a typical interim assignment last?
The duration depends on the task and objectives. Many assignments last between three and twelve months. The brief and the end date are agreed before the start and can be adjusted if necessary.
Who contracts with the interim manager?
Your company concludes the contract directly with the selected interim manager or their company. NAKAMA takes care of the search, pre-selection, placement and support.
When is interim management not the right solution?
If a position is only to be filled permanently, there is no short-term need to act and there is enough time for a thorough search, Executive Search is usually the more suitable route.
Can Interim Management and Executive Search be combined?
Yes. An interim manager can bridge a vacancy immediately while NAKAMA searches for the permanent successor in parallel.
It starts with a good conversation.
Let's talk about the responsibility that needs to be assumed at short notice, the experience required and how quickly the right person should be available. Together, we will clarify how NAKAMA can best support your interim requirement.