How to hire an interim CEO.
Seven steps. Two weeks from first call to first day on the ground. A clean exit on the agreed date.
01
Define the mandate
Write the situation, the desired outcome and the success metric on one page. Without it, an interim CEO becomes an expensive consultant. With it, the engagement has a finish line on day one.
02
Scope the role
Decide reporting line (board, controlling shareholder, PE partner), decision authority (P&L, hiring, capex limit), legal title (CEO, General Manager, Amministratore Delegato) and time commitment (full-time or fractional). Italian governance requires the legal title to be filed.
03
Day rate vs monthly retainer
Pick day rate when scope is variable or under three months. Pick monthly retainer when the role is full-time for three months or more, capped by working days per month. Add a milestone-linked success fee only when outcomes are objectively measurable.
04
Contract
Short interim engagement contract between the operating company and the interim CEO (or the CEO's company). Three- to twelve-month initial term with monthly extension. Notice 30 days either side. NDA and IP assignment. Director liability insurance in place before the legal title is registered.
05
Start
On the ground within two weeks. First two weeks: full diagnostic, leadership team one-to-ones, top ten customer review, cash and debt position, working 90-day plan to the board.
06
Operate
Weekly operating rhythm. Monthly board update on the metric agreed in step one. The interim CEO owns the result, not just the recommendation.
07
Handover
Successor briefed for a minimum of two weeks. Documented operating playbook, KPI tree, decisions log and open-issue list left behind. Clean exit on the agreed date.
Hiring checklist
Print this. Tick it off.
If you can tick all eight before the intro call, you will sign a mandate within a week.
- 01One-page mandate signed by the board or controlling shareholder
- 02Reporting line, decision authority and legal title named
- 03Day rate vs monthly retainer chosen and budgeted
- 04Three- to twelve-month interim contract drafted
- 05Director liability insurance arranged
- 06Italian legal filing (Amministratore Delegato) prepared if applicable
- 07Communication plan to staff, customers and suppliers ready
- 08Handover criteria and target start date for the successor agreed up front
Next reads
Sister pages.
For the Italian-language view of the same model, see interimceo.it,ceoadinterim.it,direttoregeneraleadinterim.it andamministratoredelegatoadinterim.com. For wider temporary management roles, see temporarymanager.work andfractionalmanager.pro.
Process FAQ
Questions boards ask about the process.
How long does it take to find and hire an interim CEO in Italy?
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From first intro call to signed mandate is typically five to ten working days. On-the-ground start is within two weeks. Crisis mandates compress to days: intro call, one-page scope, signed contract and start inside a single week.
Do I need a recruiter or search firm to hire an interim CEO?
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No. Interim CEOs are hired direct by the board, controlling shareholder or PE operating partner. Executive search firms charge 25 to 33 percent of first-year cash comp and take 60 to 120 days. Direct engagement removes both, which is the whole point of the interim model.
What goes in an interim CEO mandate document?
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One page. Situation in three lines, outcome to be delivered, single success metric, reporting line, decision authority (P&L, hiring, capex limit), legal title, time commitment, start date, end date and budget envelope. If it does not fit on one page, the mandate is not clear enough to sign.
Who signs the interim CEO contract in Italy?
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The operating company signs with the interim CEO or the CEO's professional company (S.r.l. or ditta individuale with P.IVA). The board resolution or shareholder authorisation is attached. NDA and IP assignment are inside the same contract. Director liability insurance is put in place before any Amministratore Delegato filing at the Registro Imprese.
What happens in the first two weeks of an interim CEO mandate?
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Week one: full diagnostic, one-to-ones with the leadership team, review of cash, debt and covenants, top ten customer and top ten supplier check, look at pipeline and backlog. Week two: written 90-day plan to the board, first operating rhythm set, quick decisions on any live commercial or people issues that cannot wait.
Can the interim CEO also lead the search for the permanent CEO?
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Yes, and it is often the cleanest option. The interim CEO writes the role spec from real operating context, briefs the chosen search firm and hands over to the successor over two to four weeks. The successor briefing, operating playbook and open-issue list are part of the original mandate, not an extra.
More on the full FAQ page.
Next step
Need a CEO in Italy. Fast.
Book a 30-minute intro call. No pitch deck. Direct answers on fit, timeline and scope.