Combined search for an Interim Manager and a long-therm Managing Director
A south German building supplies group run by the owner engaged our services, the company was pursuing a policy of expansion and doing well economically, with an annual turnover of around EUR 250 million. We were commissioned to recruit and select a General Manager for one of its subsidiaries with an annual turnover of around EUR 50 million.
While conducting the preliminary talks and defining the requirement profile, we discovered that the company was in an economically critical condition and that a manager with experience of restructuring firms would have to be found for the position as quickly as possible.
Owing in particular to the severe shortage of time, we proposed a two-staged solution: 1. Rapid and temporary appointment of a reconstruction manager, 2. Parallel or subsequent recruitment and selection of a Managing Director for a long-term post. The concept was approved by the client.
We suggested Mr. Y for the job of Reconstruction Manager. After studying Mechanical Engineering, and going on to attain a PhD, Mr. Y had worked successfully for 20 years in the management of large-scale German companies. Since then, he had specialised in temporary or interim management. His natural personality, communication skills, willpower and assertiveness predestined him for difficult projects involving more radical restructuring and recovery measures.
Following a brief analysis phase which revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the firm, the necessary changes to be made and approaches to be taken in the restructuring, Mr. Y took up his post as a temporary General Manager.
On completion of the restructuring, the tasks for the future Managing Director were so clearly defined that he was able to lead the company on in the course that had been taken. We were subsequently able to find a suitable candidate for the position of Managing Director in the company.
