Hire a Managing Director in Italy.
Salary ranges, contract form under CCNL Dirigenti, and the honest buy-vs-rent choice between a permanent hire and a CEO ad interim.
Direct answer
To hire a Managing Director in Italy, budget EUR 180,000-350,000 RAL plus MBO for mid-market, sign under CCNL Dirigenti with a six-month trial, and allow three to six months from search to first day. If the seat is empty now, bridge with a CEO ad interim: two-week start, day rate or monthly retainer, no employment tail.
Compared
Permanent MD vs CEO ad interim.
| Dimension | Permanent Managing Director | CEO ad interim |
|---|---|---|
| First-year cost | EUR 220k-450k all-in (RAL, MBO, benefits, D&O, search fee) | EUR 250k-550k all-in for a 12-month mandate |
| Time to start | 3-6 months search + notice | 2 weeks |
| Reversibility | Severance under CCNL Dirigenti if it fails | Clean end date, no employment relationship |
| Best when | Strategy is set and seat is stable | Seat is empty, transitional or high-uncertainty |
| Legal wrapper | CCNL Dirigenti contract, CdA nomina AD | Services contract with professional entity, optional AD nomina |
FAQ
Hiring an MD in Italy. Common questions.
How much does a Managing Director earn in Italy?
Total comp for a Managing Director or Direttore Generale in Italian mid-market companies typically runs EUR 180,000 to EUR 350,000 RAL, plus MBO of 20-40 percent and, in PE-backed cases, an equity package. Large-cap and regulated industries push higher. The number is driven by revenue scale, complexity and reporting line, not tenure.
What contract do you use to hire a Managing Director?
Permanent hires go on a CCNL Dirigenti contract with a six-month trial period, D&O insurance and severance rules set by CCNL Confindustria Dirigenti. Interim engagements go on a fixed-term services contract between the company and the operator's professional entity, with clean start and end dates and no employment tail.
Should I hire a permanent MD or bring one in on interim?
Hire permanent when the seat is stable, the strategy is set and you can wait three to six months. Bring one in on interim when the seat is empty, the situation is transitional (turnaround, post-acquisition, market entry, sudden exit), or you are not yet ready to commit to a permanent profile. Interim is a rent, not a buy.
Assumere un direttore generale conviene o è meglio un ad interim?
Assumere un Direttore Generale a tempo indeterminato ha senso quando la strategia è stabile e c'è tempo. Un CEO ad interim conviene quando la sedia è vuota, la situazione è transitoria o non hai ancora definito il profilo permanente. Uno si compra, l'altro si affitta. Costo primo anno spesso comparabile, rischio molto diverso.
How long does a permanent MD hire take?
Three to six months from search kick-off to first day on the job, plus a six-month trial. Interim starts in two weeks and covers the seat while permanent search runs in parallel.
Related: how to find a CEO, head hunter cost, and Direttore Generale ad interim. Back to Hire Interim CEO.
Next step
Rent the seat while you search for the permanent hire.
One senior operator in the MD chair in two weeks. Runs the company while the board completes the permanent search. No search fee, no notice tail.