When crisis hits, boards don't have the luxury of time. With most top CEOs and CFOs tied into 6-12 month notice periods in the UK, interims are the immediate answer. These are proven leaders who land, assess, and act without delay. When managing crises, speed is of utmost importance. That's why interim executive experience is invaluable - not just in PE and VC environments where pace is relentless, but also in listed and privately owned businesses facing sudden shocks. Appointing an interim means bringing in someone who has been there before, often several times, across different sectors, ownership structures and challenges. They deliver clarity and calm leadership in the face of the storm. Recently, I was asked to place an Interim CFO into a large PE-backed retail business in serious difficulty: revenues deteriorating, losses mounting, and both customer and investor confidence low. The brief was clear: stabilise quickly whilst preparing the business for the future. Our Interim CFO stepped in and: 1) Delivered a cost transformation to right-size the business 2) Refocused investment towards sales and commercial teams 3) Strengthened business partnering across functions 4) Improved productivity and profitability This resulted in a business that moved from survival mode back into profit, showing early signs of revenue growth and a platform for sustainable performance. For the PE backers, it meant confidence to reset and reinvest. If you're considering where and when interim executives can deliver the most impact, I'd be glad to share further insights. You can reach me directly at james.harold@azurasearch.com #interimexecutive #crisismanagement
