SMW International Survey of Interim Management_2016
1. International survey of Interim Managers 2016
“who the interim managers are and what they do”
Senior Management Worldwide (SMW) is the longest running and most successful international
partnership of Interim Executives providers. With member firms in 17 countries and associates
across the globe, SMW helps organizations with strategic leadership in temporary assignments.
Together the partnership has developed an effective organization which has made SMW
specialists in introducing rapid solutions for performance improvement to our clients.
2. SMW survey IM 2016
International survey of Interim Managers 2016
Senior Management Worldwide (SMW) is the longest running and most successful international
partnership of Interim Executives providers. With member firms in 17 countries and associates across
the globe, SMW helps organizations with strategic leadership in temporary assignments.
Together the partnership has developed an effective organization which has made SMW specialists in
introducing rapid solutions for performance improvement to our clients.
The International survey of Interim Managers conducted by SMW approached over 13 000 Interim
Managers in 12 countries for participation. The Netherlands, Spain, Turkey and USA did not participate
in the survey, but have comparative values from local surveys completed in 2016.
The purpose with the survey is to introduce – “who the interim managers are and what they do”
More and more people are starting to understand the value of Interim Executives; thus SMW sees
continued growth in the service offering of interim managers. For clients, Interim Executives are
considered more of a strategic leadership service than gap filling.
3. SMW international survey of Interim Management 2016
27 Country coverage
+ 13 000 Interim managers
Average
53 years age
3 years as IM
200 working days/year
66 % in assignments
55 % C- level
23 % non-executive
15 % female
4. SMW survey IM 2016
PERSONAL
Age
The 51-55 and 56-60 age groups remain the largest groups with 54%. In Poland, Hungary and China
we would find a new generation of leaders In the + 40 age groups.
Gender
There is an increasing number of female Interim Managers globally. In Sweden some 25 %, UK over
30 %. Rest of Europe less than 20 %, and APAC over 35 %
Years of experience as IM
More and more executives are seeing the advantage and challenge in working as Interim Managers.
The interim management industry is growing globally and stands for strong values in top quality
leadership.
33 % of the Interim Managers are newcomers with 1-2 years in the market. Looking for work flexibly
and within different businesses or sectors.
23 % have been in the market for over 5 years.
“More and more people are starting to understand what an Interim Manager can do – and how they
accomplish it”
5. 33,7%
18,3%
23,1%
12,6%
12,3%
Years of experience as an Interim Manager
1-2 years
3-4 years
5-9 years
10-14 years
> 15 years
2,3% 7,4%
15,5%
25,2%28,7%
20,9%
Age
< 40 years
40-45 years
46-50 years
51-55 years
56-60 years
> 60 years
SMW survey IM 2016
14,6%
85,4%
Gender
Female
Male
USA – 70 % are ”baby boomers” 52-70 years
6. SMW survey IM 2016
Permanent employment vs IM
The most of the interim managers are committed to Interim Management.
43 % could be interested in a permanent employment
57 % are committed to Interim Management
Many clients are in search or recruiting processes to complete the organization when the interim managers
have accomplished their assignment. They either develop talents in an internal employee or help the
organization find new talent in an executive search process.
The interim managers hit the ground running in the contract and quickly accomplish excellent results that
are handed over to the client when the job is done. For many of those guys the client offers them a
permanent position which ordinarily would be attractive, but instead they refused because they are
committed to Interim Management.
Average working day over the past years
To work full time or part time as an Interim Manager would be a personal choice. 56 % are working less
than full time, which would be an option for the clients looking for the best candidate to get the job done.
Flexibility in full time/part time is most valuable.
7. 43,4%
56,6%
Permanent employment vs Interim Management. To work as an
Interim Manager is a career commitment for many executives.
What is your preference - to consider permanent employment or
to be committed to Interim Management?
Yes, I could be interested in
permanent employment
No, I am committed to Interim
Management
SMW survey IM 2016
USA
Yes 86 %
No 14 %
USA
Less than 100 47 %
Less than 200 31 %
More than 200 22 %
40,7%
25,0%
34,3%
Average working days on assignments over the past year
as Interim Manager?
Less than 100 days
Less than 200 days
More than 200 days
8. SMW survey IM 2016
PROFILE, POSITIONS AND INDUSTRIES
Current commitments to board positions
Beside the profession as an Interim Executive many interim managers have taken Board positions.
37 % as Executive Members
15 % as Chairman
34 % as Advisory or in supervisory board
Level where you normally operate as IM
53 % Level 1 - Board Level Executive, CEO, President, MD, CFO, GM or VP roles
24 % Level 2 - Non executive Director (NED)
24 % Level 3 - Line manager
9. SMW survey IM 2016
Board positions
36,8
14,8
33,6
63,2
85,2
66,4
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90
Executive Member
Chairman, NED
Advisory, supervisory board
Do you currently have any commitments to Board positions?
Do you currently have any commitments to Board positions? No
Do you currently have any commitments to Board positions? Yes
10. SMW survey IM 2016
At what level do you normally operate as an Interim Manager?
Executive 55,50
Non Executive
21,26
Line Manager
23,24
51-60 years
Serie1
Executives
52,6%
Level 2 Non
Executive
23,6%
Level 3 Line
managers
23,8%
All responses
11. SMW survey IM 2016
Current work status
Interim managers accept part time contracts from time to time to have the flexibility to
accomplish in Board level or Advisory commitments. For clients, a part time contract
would give them opportunities to get more value for their money for a high caliber
Interim Executive at a reasonable cost.
1/3 of the Interim Managers are between contracts.
Average duration of IM contracts
Most contracts last for 6 – 12 months or with a duration of more than a year.
Number of assignments the last three years
With an average duration of one year, 90 % of the interim managers have completed 2-3
assignments the last three years.
12. 9,0%
20,3%
24,0%
24,7%
22,1%
What is the average duration of your interim contracts?
Less than 3 months
3 – 6 months
6 – 9 months
9 – 12 months
More than 12 months
41,9%
24,8%
33,3%
1. What is your current work status?
Full time
Part time
Not on assignment
SMW survey IM 2016 Work status, duration and accomplishment
52,9%
37,7%
6,4%
2,9%
In how many assignments have you accomplished over the
last three years?
1 - 2 3 - 4 5- 6 More than 6 assignments
13. SMW survey IM 2016
CFO 22%
2%
M&S 28%
COO Adm 8%
COO Manuf 16%
1%
5%
3%
3%
4%
HR 8%
56 - 60 years
CFO/FD Prio 1 Group Controller Prio 1
Marketing & Sales Prio 1 COO Administration &staff Prio 1
COO Manufacturing engineering Prio 1 COO ICT Prio 1
CIO (Information) Prio 1 CIO (Technology) Prio 1
Procurement Prio 1 Supply chain/Logistics Prio 1
HR Prio 1
CFO 22%
2%
M&S 31%COO Adm 10%
COO Manuf 9%
3%
5%
2%
4%
4%
HR 8%
51 - 55 years
CFO/FD Prio 1 Group Controller Prio 1
Marketing & Sales Prio 1 COO Administration &staff Prio 1
COO Manufacturing engineering Prio 1 COO ICT Prio 1
CIO (Information) Prio 1 CIO (Technology) Prio 1
Procurement Prio 1 Supply chain/Logistics Prio 1
HR Prio 1
Major functional experience or position
The largest areas of functional experience are Finance, Marketing and Sales, COO manufacturing and Human Resources.
14. SMW survey IM 2016
Industry sector experience
We have asked the Interim Managers for the priority – 1, 2 and 3. Top sectors in prio 1 are
56 % Manufacturing/Engineering
50 % Banking/Insurance/financial services
47 % FMCG
47 % Biotech/Pharmaceutical/Chemical
45 % Automotive
42 % Public sector
We present the Industry sectors experience in the following charts.
15. SMW survey IM 2016
41
10 10 11
5
0
38
7
11
3
8
11
13
5
11
1
2 3
4
2
7
10
2
13
4
7
3
9
1
9
13
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
In which Industry sectors are you most experienced (%)
16. SMW survey IM 2016
Market changes over the last five years
75 % of the Interim Managers would find the market changes to the same numbers enquiries or more
opportunities over the last five years.
Market changes over the last 12 months
76 % of the Interim Managers found market growth for their experience and profile over the last 12
months.
45 % found the same number of opportunities as last year
31 % found more opportunities than last year.
We know that the number of enquires would reflect the business or economic cycle in countries
where we serve the clients. It is important to understand when clients are operating globally.
“I quickly realized I had to have my own style and strategy and find my own way.” - Brad Grey
17. SMW survey IM 2016
How has the market for your experience and profile changed
Fewer
opportunities
23,6%
Same as last year
45,5%
More
opportunities
30,9%
Over the last 12 months?
Fewer
opportunities
24,2%
Same number
36,6%
More opportunities
39,2%
Over the last 5 years?
18. SMW survey IM 2016
Less than recent years 19,2%
Same/no change 63,1%
More/increasing 17,7%
All
Less than recent years 19,8%
Same/no change 63,4%
More/increasing 16,8%
51 – 60 years
Fee rate changes
63 % of the Interim Managers found no change or charged the same fee rate and 18 % charged higher fee rates over the last year.
19. SMW survey IM 2016
Highest P&L responsibility
Working as an Interim Executive calls for a proven track record in Executive positions, VP roles etc. Interim Managers are not specialists,
they are leaders with P/L experience, driving change, performance improvement or turnaround in critical situations.
Less than 20M€
17,3%
20-50 M€ 19,2%
50-100M€ 22,6%
100-200 M€
17,0%
More than 200
M€ 23,8%
51 - 60 years
< 20 M€ 21,0%
20 – 50 M€ 19,5%
50 – 100 M€ 20,0%
100 – 200 M€ 15,1%
> 200 M€ 24,4%
All responses
20. SMW survey IM 2016
International experience
67 % Domestic companies with international operations
57 % International companies in a domestic market
32 % Expatriate experience
20 % Have been in assignments (away from home) further afield
Over the last couple of years, the offering of Interim Executives has turned to be an
international service.
It is significant that Interim Executives bring strategic leadership and capacity to the
clients. Focus is on driving change and result oriented managers.
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself.
When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.” —Jack Welch
21. SMW survey IM 2016
Personal strongest capabilities
We have asked for the strongest capabilities in five leadership roles or strategic scopes.
Value in a range from 1-5. (5 is highest)
Growth 53 % in the range of 4-5
Turnaround 52 % in the range of 4-5
M&A integration 47 % in the range of 4-5
Change Management 58 % in the range of 4-5
Non-executive 39 % in the range of 4-5
International organizations have reduced costs down to the bone in management resources which
means that lack of leadership in change is one of the most common areas of high risk.
”The road to success is always under construction – Arnold Palmer”
22. SMW survey IM 2016
67,1%
56,4%
31,2%
19,7%
0,0%
10,0%
20,0%
30,0%
40,0%
50,0%
60,0%
70,0%
80,0%
Domestic
companies with
international
operations .
International
companies as
country/regional
manager etc?
Expatriate in
international
companies?
Assignments
further afield as
Interim Manager
What is your experience of Executive or Senior Management
positions within international organisations?
Of the examples listed below which do you believe are your strongest capabilities?
1 is low and 5 high.
Experience and strengths
13,3 15,9 18,3 26,5 26
13,8
15,5 18,8
26
25,9
8,8
19,3 25,8
29,6
16,5
20,2
11,1 11,1
21,1
36,5
20,5 16,8 24,1
14,7
23,9
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
1 2 3 4 5
Of the examples listed below which do you believe are your strongest
capabilities? Please evaluate below in a range of 1-5, in which 1 is low
and 5 high.
Growth Growth Turnaround Turnaround
M & A integration M & A/integration Change management Change management
Non-executive - no P/L Non-executive - no P&L
23. SMW survey IM 2016
The requested fee for an assignment is per day or per month. Monthly fees assume full time positions.
Service providers charge a margin of 20-30 % on top of the expected fee for the interim manager.
20,1%
28,5%
21,3%
13,4%
11,0%
5,6%
What is your expected fee per day?
600 – 800 € 800 – 1000 € 1000 – 1200 € 1200 – 1400 € >1400 € N/A
13,2%
29,3%
19,2%
15,1%
7,3%
6,6%
9,2%
Alternatively, what is your expected fee per month
(assuming a full time position)?
Less than 12000 € 12000 – 16000 € 16000 – 20000 € 20000 – 24000 €
29. SMW survey IM 2016
CHANNELS TO MARKET
Which are your channels to approach client opportunities
The route to market for an interim manager is their personal network or service
providers. There is a mix of contacts with service providers and personal network.
But, 22 % is dedicated only to the personal network and 10 % is dedicated only to
service providers
How many service providers in your network
58 % are approaching 1-3 service providers for enquires. In Germany and UK 35 %
of the Interim Managers are approaching more than 6 service providers for
enquires.
30. SMW survey IM 2016
Channels to market – Personal network/Service providers
57,1%27,0%
15,9%
How many Service providers do you have in your network for interim
management opportunities?
1 – 3 Service providers 3 – 6 Service providers More than 6 providers
21,8%
9,8%
20,8%
23,1%
24,5%
Which are your channels to market for approaching client
opportunities?
100% Personal contacts
in my network
100% Through a Service
provider/ other
intermediaries
30/70 Personal
network/Service providers
50/50 Personal
network/Service providers
70/30 Personal
network/Service providers
31. SMW survey IM 2016
Evaluation of channels to market
Service providers and personal network are extremely important for getting new
enquires.
Service providers 51 % extremely important 40 % most important
Personal network 78 % extremely important 19 % most important
New client leads 24 % extremely important 54 % most important
LinkedIn/Facebook 12 % extremely important 48 % most important
32. SMW survey IM 2016
Service
provider/Intermediar
ies
Personal network
New clients (new
inquiries)
Social
media/LinkedIn/Face
book
Local business
networks
Professional IM
organizations
Chambers of
Commerce
Less important 9,3 2,3 22,2 40,4 40,8 41,2 79,1
Important 40 19,4 53,9 47,9 42,1 43 18,4
Extremely important 50,7 78,3 23,9 11,7 17,1 15,8 2,5
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
Please evaluate your channels to market
33. Senior Management Worldwide (SMW) is the longest running and most successful international partnership of Interim
Executives providers. With member firms in 17 countries and associates across the globe, SMW helps organizations with
strategic leadership in temporary assignments. Together the partnership has developed an effective organization which
has made SMW specialists in introducing rapid solutions for performance improvement to our clients.
www.smw-interim.com